KPMG Canada has appointed Benjie Thomas as chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2024.
Thomas, who currently serves as advisory leader, will succeed CEO Elio Luongo when he completes his second four-year term later this year.
Under Luongo’s leadership, the Big Four accountancy expanded to 1,000 partners and 10,000+ employees and invested heavily in technology – including upskilling its entire workforce on emerging tech and building a proprietary GenAI platform.
Luongo also oversaw the 2022 introduction of KPMG’s Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan and the January 2024 launch of its Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
“Having worked alongside Benjie on the firm’s management committee for the past eight years, I have seen first-hand how dedicated he is to supporting clients, colleagues and the communities he volunteers his time in,”
Luongo said.
“He is a respected leader with a collaborative approach, and a steadfast commitment to quality and innovation. He is the right leader to take the firm through its next chapter.”
Thomas has been at KPMG Canada since 1998, joining the firm’s audit practice in London, ON before transferring to the advisory practice in Toronto. He has served as managing partner of the advisory practice since 2016 and industry leader for private equity and pension funds since 2006. Thomas is also a member of KPMG’s management committee.
He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Waterloo and is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA).
“I am honoured to serve as the next CEO of KPMG in Canada, a firm with a history of over 150 years in this country, who welcomed me as a student over two decades ago and provided me with a diverse set of experiences that prepared me for this rare privilege and responsibility,”
Thomas said.
“Organizations are dealing with a growing list of risks and challenges, but emerging technology also presents them with unparalleled opportunities,”
he added.
“My priority as CEO will be to help Canadian businesses navigate through these times with agility and confidence as we continue to put our clients at the centre of everything we do.”
Sourced from: Consulting CA