In 2015, Julie Sweet left her role as general counsel at Accenture to put her business judgment to use as the global consulting firm's chief executive for North America. More than four years later, that move paid off: On Thursday, Sweet was named Accenture's new chief executive.

The move comes on the heels of a shake-up within Accenture's legal department and highlights the growing trend of companies elevating their attorneys to nonlegal positions to make business decisions.

Sweet, 51, succeeds David Rowland, who had been serving as interim chief executive since January, when then-Accenture CEO Pierre Nanterme died of colon cancer. Her appointment is effective Sept. 1, according to a company statement announcing her promotion.