Robert N. Frerichs Appointed Executive Chairman of Aricent Group Board of Directors

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aricent Group, a global innovation and technology services firm, today announced that Robert N. Frerichs has been appointed executive chairman of its board of directors. Mr. Frerichs will retire from his current position as international chairman of Accenture PLC and start his new role on March 1.

Joe W. Forehand, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Accenture who had previously been chairman of the Aricent Group board, will continue to serve on the board of directors.

Mr. Forehand said: "Mr. Frerichs is an industry veteran and has profound experience in professional services at a global scale. We will greatly benefit from his expertise and guidance as we establish the Aricent Group as the category leader in innovation services for the connected world."

In addition to Mr. Frerichs and Mr. Forehand, the Aricent Group's board members include Adam H. Clammer (KKR), James H. Greene, Jr. (KKR), Nathaniel H. Taylor (KKR), Arun Sarin (senior advisor, KKR, and former chief executive of Vodafone Group, PLC), Tony Morgan (Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board), and Sudip Nandy (chief executive officer, Aricent Group).

Before assuming his role as international chairman of Accenture in September 2011, Robert N. Frerichs was group chief executive—North America, with overall responsibility for Accenture's business in North America. He also served as the company's chief risk officer from 2004 to 2009. Prior to serving as chief risk officer, Mr. Frerichs was chief operating officer of Accenture's Communication & High Tech operating group.

Mr. Frerichs was a member of Accenture's board of directors prior to the company's initial public offering in July 2001 and also served on the company's strategic planning teams during key periods over the past 20+ years. He was involved in the creation of Avanade, a technology company Accenture formed with Microsoft, and currently serves as chairman of Avanade's board of directors.

A certified public accountant and certified at the fellow level in manufacturing, Mr. Frerichs joined Accenture in 1976 and became a partner in 1986.

He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois.

About the Aricent Group

The Aricent Group is a global innovation and technology services company that helps clients imagine, commercialize, and evolve products and services for the connected world. Bringing together the communications technology expertise of Aricent with the creative vision and user experience prowess of frog, the Aricent Group provides a unique portfolio of innovation capabilities that seamlessly combines consumer insights, strategy, design, software engineering, and systems integration. The client base includes communications service providers, equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, device makers, and many other Fortune 500 brands. The company's investors are Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sequoia Capital, The Family Office, Delta Partners, and The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.

For more information, please visit http://www.aricent.com
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SOURCE Aricent Group