KPMG elects Bill Thomas as Global Chairman

Bill Thomas, elected to become next Chairman of KPMG International‎. (CNW Group/KPMG International)

Americas Region Chairman will succeed John Veihmeyer upon completion of his term

NEW YORK, March 9, 2017 /CNW/ - William B Thomas, 49, has been elected Chairman of KPMG International. He will lead the KPMG global network of professional services firms for a 4-year term, effective October 1, 2017, succeeding John B Veihmeyer, 61, who is completing his term as Chairman and retiring from the firm, at the end of September 2017. 

Bill Thomas, who was elected to his new role by KPMG International's Global Council, has served as Chairman of KPMG's Americas region since 2014 and has been a member of the Global Board since 2009. He has been a leader in defining KPMG's global strategy and a champion in promoting an inclusive and high-performing culture throughout the KPMG network.

Bill was CEO and Senior Partner of KPMG in Canada from 2009 to 2016, leading the firm in achieving strong growth in the market, and making strategic investments that contributed to expanding the firm's capabilities. In his 28 years with KPMG, Bill has also held a number of leadership roles in the Canadian firm and within KPMG International, and has served as an audit partner for prominent clients in a variety of industries.

John Veihmeyer said: 
"I am extremely proud to announce that Bill Thomas has been elected to succeed me as Chairman of KPMG International. Bill brings an exceptional range of skills and experience that will benefit KPMG and the clients our professionals serve. As leader of KPMG's Americas region and the Canadian firm, Bill has an outstanding leadership record of quality growth, innovation and collaboration. But what distinguishes Bill most are his qualities of integrity, sincerity, passion and personal commitment. I'm confident that Bill's authentic leadership will bring tremendous value to KPMG, our people and to clients." 

Bill Thomas said: 
"It is a great honor to be elected Chairman of KPMG International. John Veihmeyer has been an exceptional leader and role model, who has strengthened KPMG immensely with his commitment to quality and integrity, and his focus on the culture of our global organization. I intend to build on the foundation John has put in place, and help KPMG's 190,000 professionals around the world to fulfill their potential and bring their best in meeting the rapidly expanding needs of clients. I'm convinced the next few years will be among the most dynamic our profession has ever seen, and I'm excited about the opportunities that are in front of KPMG."

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 152 countries and have 189,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.  

KPMG Biographies

William B Thomas: Biography

William B Thomas is the Chairman of KPMG's Americas Region – a position he has held since March 2014. In addition, Bill served as the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner of KPMG in Canada from 2009 to 2016.

As a member of KPMG International's Global Board since 2009, Bill has brought tremendous international experience and perspectives to his Americas role. Bill has also built strong relationships with many Canadian and global clients, bringing key knowledge and insights to help them navigate the increasingly complex markets in which they operate. As CEO of KPMG in Canada, he provided leadership and direction for the firm's business across the country, working with partners and staff to drive KPMG's strategy and growth forward.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and achieved his Chartered Accountant designation in 1992 from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia. He was named a Fellow of the Institute in 2008. Bill is a past recipient of Business in Vancouver's Forty-under-Forty award, which recognizes British Columbia's top 40 outstanding young entrepreneurs, executives, managers and professionals. In 2012, he was honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his significant contribution to Canada. In 2015, Bill was named a Catalyst Canada Honours Champion in recognition for his leadership in building a diverse and inclusive culture across the firm.

Bill is married with three children.

John B Veihmeyer: Biography

John Veihmeyer is the Global Chairman of KPMG International. During his 40-year career, he has previously held numerous leadership roles at KPMG, including US Chairman and CEO from 2010-2015, and US Deputy Chairman from 2005-2010.

Veihmeyer has been consistently named as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting" by Accounting Today magazine, and one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Corporate Governance by Directorship Magazine. He is a member of the Business Roundtable, the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, and the Mendoza College Business Advisory Council of the University of Notre Dame, from which he graduated. He serves on the board of the US-India Business Council, the Board of Trustees for both the US Council for International Business (USCIB) and the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), and the Executive Committee of the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF).

Veihmeyer champions KPMG's high-performance culture, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and diversity as a foundation for being a great place to work and build a career. He is a member of the board of Catalyst, whose mission is to expand opportunities for women in business, and in 2011 he received the CEO Leadership Award from Diversity Best Practices for his commitment to diversity.

He is also deeply committed to philanthropy and corporate responsibility. Along with his wife Beth, Veihmeyer is a driving force behind KPMG's "Family for Literacy" (KFFL) program. In its 9-year history, KFFL has provided nearly 3 million books to children in need in the US and has now expanded to many countries around the KPMG network. He is a Board member of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. In 2013, Veihmeyer was honored as "Responsible CEO of the Year" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.

SOURCE KPMG International

For further information: Brian Bannister, Head of Global Communications, KPMG International, [phone], [e-mail]