Accenture has named Carmina Lees as the head of its insurance practice for the UK and Ireland.
Lees, who has been with Accenture’s financial services industry group since 2017, previously led projects for major banking clients.
Lees (pictured) brings over 25 years of experience across various industries, focusing on technology and digital transformation.
In her new role, she will assist insurers, reinsurers, and brokers in advancing their digital initiatives, optimising operations, and achieving growth amid industry disruptions.
Lees’ background in the banking sector includes acting as a strategic advisor to senior executives, directing digitisation projects that improved customer experiences, agility, and performance. She has been involved in innovative programs using digital, data, and AI technologies alongside key partners.
Based in London, Lees is a known advocate for women in technology and actively supports diversity initiatives. She has been listed as one of the top 50 most influential women in IT by Computer Weekly for three consecutive years. Before joining Accenture, she led the UK cybersecurity practice for a global tech firm.
Outside her professional life, Lees enjoys outdoor activities with her daughters and participates in “Tough Mudder” events.
The appointment follows the announcement of Accenture’s partnership with US-based retailer Bath & Body Works, which will see the integration of AI technologies to the retailer’s operations.
Bath & Body Works, known for its soaps, lotions, fragrances, and candles, operates over 1,900 stores globally. Recently, it has faced challenges due to economic conditions affecting consumer spending, leading to a 1% decline in net sales in the latest quarterly results compared to the previous year.
Looking forward, the company anticipates a 2.5% decline to flat net sales for 2024, with forecasted profits falling below market expectations. This has resulted in a 10.7% drop in company shares, prompting the retailer to seek new strategies.
In response, it announced a partnership with Accenture to develop AI-driven capabilities, including a digital “Fragrance Finder” to help customers select products tailored to their preferences.
“Our collaboration with Accenture is about having a strong technology foundation and scaling the power of digital, data, and AI to deliver new levels of customer experiences, agility, and performance,” said Bath & Body Works CEO Gina Boswell.
