Andrew B. Zimmerman

Managing Director, Communications Industry, Accenture

Andy is global Managing Director of the Communications Industry in Accenture’s $4bn Communications & High Tech Global Operating Group. In this role, Andy oversees the development of Accenture’s strategies and capabilities for serving the wireline, wireless and cable segments. Accenture’s clients in these segments include most of the world’s largest service providers. Prior to this, Andy was the Managing Director of the North American communications client group.

Before joining Accenture, Andy was CEO of Predictive Systems (a network and security consulting and information services company headquartered in New York City) and also COO of idealab! New York. Andy led PricewaterhouseCoopers' E-Business Consulting Practice—having responsibility for planning and marketing e-services, alliance development, thought leadership, training and support, and equity investments in e-business ventures and partners. 

Andy has been a pioneer of Internet-related activities for more than a decade. In 1986, he co-founded Reach Networks, one of the earliest Internet companies, which pioneered the use of IP-based knowledge sharing networks. This technology was initially implemented as the Knowledge Network at Coopers & Lybrand, grew to 30,000 users, and was hailed in an article by Tom Peters, which he called “one of the most important stories we have ever run.”

Andy authored the New York New Media Industry Survey in 1995, the first in-depth study of the new media industry and its impact on New York's economy. The study, which received widespread coverage including the New York Times, L.A. Times, and CNN Headlines News, quickly positioned New York City and Silicon Alley as a major hub for new media businesses.

Andy is a regular speaker at industry conferences (including the United States Telephone Association, Information Industry Association and Supercomm) and a prolific media spokesperson (being quoted by CNN, CNBC, BBC, Fortune, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times on topics ranging from the Internet to complexity theory to disruptive technologies). 

Andy received a B.A. from Haverford College and was subsequently awarded a Thomas J. Watson post-graduate Fellowship.  He received an M.S. from New York University and is a certified public accountant.