Timothy Walsh was elected for a five-year term to succeed Paul Knopp as chair and CEO of KPMG U.S. beginning on July 1, the Big Four accounting firm said on Monday.
In addition, Atif Zaim will serve a five-year term as KPMG’s new deputy chair starting in July, succeeding Laura Newinski, who is also the firm’s chief operating officer.
“Tim Walsh and Atif Zaim’s vision, integrity, strategic acumen, and dedication to our clients will propel us forward as we compete and win in the market,” said Knopp, who has served as chair and CEO of KPMG since 2020. “This team is committed to innovation, anticipating client needs, and delivering above and beyond what the market demands of KPMG.”
“I want to thank Paul for his leadership and stewardship of the firm. We are entering an unprecedented era of transformation driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and automation. Winning companies are making the right strategic moves on talent, technology, and growth. Insights that disrupt institutional inertia, innovation that creates new markets, and leaders that build trust with employees, customers, and investors will be the difference makers,” Walsh said in a statement. “KPMG is ready to help our clients win. Atif and I are focused on investments in technology, culture, and quality that put us in the best position to bring the full power of our partnership and global network to solve the unique challenges our clients face.”
Walsh also posted the following statement on LinkedIn about his promotion to chair and CEO:
I joined KPMG US in 1992 – as an intern. I was studying accounting at the time because I felt it would help me pursue my ambition of launching a career in business and eventually starting and owning my own business. I thought if I knew the numbers, I could learn the rest. But KPMG – a place I thought would be one chapter of my life – became a lifelong professional home.
The chance to serve as the Chair & CEO of this firm is the honor of a lifetime.
I am so grateful to Paul Knopp & Laura Newinski for their stewardship, and to our Board of Directors and partners for entrusting us with this incredible responsibility.
I am excited about the opportunities ahead of us. There is no doubt that we will all need to lean into change. There will be bold moves and challenging moments. But the firm is poised for this moment. So, let’s lean in together, hold each other accountable, and stay focused on the future.
As we enter this next chapter together, I am honored to lead alongside Atif Zaim, beginning July 1, 2025. Our driving priority is ensuring that we’re ready for that future, becoming more agile, more strategic, and more accountable than ever before. We’re not only going to keep pace with change but lead it – by delivering the best services for our clients and being the most trusted professional services firm.
Walsh is currently national managing partner of audit operations, responsible for driving operational excellence and innovation in the firm’s U.S. audit practice.
Over his 33-year career, he has served a diverse array of large, multinational clients in the consumer products, retail, industrial manufacturing, and media/advertising industries, with a special focus on publicly listed companies, according to his bio. Walsh’s previous leadership roles at the firm include serving as the New York metro audit partner-in-charge, industry sector leader for the consumer products and retail business in the New York metro area, and lead partner-in-charge of the venture capital practice in New York.
A graduate of the firm’s Chair 25 leadership program, which brings together high-potential candidates for leadership development, Walsh also previously served as a SEC reviewing partner, serving as one of the firm’s specialists on matters related to the Securities and Exchange Commission. From 2001 to 2006, Tim was part of the firm’s U.S. capital markets group in London, where he was responsible for reviewing SEC filings and advising on Securities and Exchange Act and stock exchange procedures for various foreign registrants across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. He has extensive experience with cross-border SEC filing requirements and has assisted numerous non-U.S. domiciled companies in raising capital in the United States. Tim began his career at the KPMG New York office in 1992 and was admitted to the partnership in 2003.
Zaim is the current U.S. consulting leader and former national managing principal of KPMG’s advisory practice. He joined KPMG in 1994 in London, moved to New York in 1998, and was admitted to the partnership in 2003.
“We will be bold and agile in this moment of change,” Zaim said in a statement. “KPMG will continue to offer clients access to the best people and services, and the new and necessary solutions to accelerate transformation. Tim and I are dedicated to engaging the C-suite to remain at the forefront of innovation while continuing to foster a high-performance culture that supports all our people.”
“This is the right team for this incredible moment for the firm,” added Newinski, who has served as KPMG U.S. deputy chair and COO since 2020. “Tim and Atif’s commitment to culture and people combined with their understanding of the market has shaped a powerful vision for our firm that’s truly exciting.”
Knopp’s and Newinski’s time in office was marked by strong growth, strategic and substantial investments in innovation and technology, increased global connectivity, continued advancement of the firm’s culture and values, and significant improvements in audit quality, including the firm’s lowest audit deficiency rate since 2009, KPMG said.
KPMG, the fourth-largest accounting firm in the U.S. by revenue, saw its revenue grow during Knopp’s time as chair and CEO from $9.57 billion in 2020 to $12.6 billion in 2024.
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