Accenture Ltd., the world's second- largest consultant, appointed former Sony Corp. chairman Nobuyuki Idei and former Citigroup Inc. executive Marjorie Magner as directors. Bloomberg News reported last week.

The terms of Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Corp.'s chief executive officer, and Carlos Vidal have expired, Accenture said in a statement on its Web site.

The appointments of Idei, 68, and Magner, 56, take effect immediately, the company said. Their appointments as independent directors means Accenture's board now has nine outside, independent directors and two internal directors, the company said.

Shares of Hamilton, Bermuda-based Accenture fell 6 cents to $31.66 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading today. They have risen 23 percent in the past year.