Finance

KPMG picks former Australia head Wingrove as global CEO, FT reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 4, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 2, 2026

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KPMG picks former Australia head Wingrove as global CEO, FT reports
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March 4 (Reuters) - Big Four accounting firm KPMG has named its former Australia head, Gary Wingrove, as its next global chief executive, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people

KPMG picks COO Wingrove as next global chief, FT reports

KPMG Leadership Transition and Global Strategy

March 4 (Reuters) - Big Four accounting firm KPMG has selected its former Australia head, Gary Wingrove, as its next global chief executive, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. 

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. KPMG did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

Gary Wingrove’s Background and Role at KPMG

Wingrove is currently KPMG's global chief operating officer and was the CEO of KPMG Australia from 2013 to 2021.

Selection Process for the New Global Chief

The firm's board met in late February to discuss the candidates and recommended Wingrove over KPMG UK boss Jon Holt, but the decision is yet to be ratified by the company's global council, the report said.

KPMG’s Global Presence and Industry Position

Headquartered in London, KPMG provides audit, tax and advisory services across 138 countries and territories, with more than 276,000 partners and employees. It is one of the so-called Big Four accounting firms alongside PwC, Deloitte and EY.

Strategic Initiatives Led by Wingrove

Wingrove had "been behind some of the most transformational aspects" of KPMG's strategy in recent years, including closer integration and "multibillion-dollar investments in technology and AI," the FT said, citing a person familiar with the business.

Current CEO and Leadership Timeline

Current CEO Bill Thomas' term ends in September this year. He was first elected chairman of the firm in 2017.

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Alan Barona)

Key Takeaways

  • Gary Wingrove, global COO and ex‑Australia head, was selected as KPMG’s next global CEO by the global board in late February, with formal approval expected from the Global Council this month (ft.com)
  • Wingrove’s leadership in Australia nearly doubled KPMG Australia’s revenues, profits and headcount, and globally he has spearheaded consolidation of national member firms and multibillion‑dollar investments in tech and AI (ft.com)
  • The outgoing CEO Bill Thomas will step down on September 30, 2026, when Wingrove is slated to take over; Jon Holt remains head of KPMG UK after losing the global race (ft.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has KPMG appointed as its new global CEO?
KPMG has named Gary Wingrove, its former Australia head, as the next global chief executive.
Which publication reported Gary Wingrove’s appointment as KPMG’s global CEO?
The Financial Times reported on Gary Wingrove’s appointment, citing people familiar with the matter.
Was KPMG’s new global CEO appointment independently verified by Reuters?
No, Reuters could not immediately verify the report regarding KPMG’s new global CEO.
What was Gary Wingrove’s previous role at KPMG?
Gary Wingrove was the former head of KPMG Australia before becoming the global CEO.

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