Gary Wingrove, global chief operating officer of Big Four accounting firm KPMG, has been elected as the next global chairman and CEO of KPMG International. He will succeed Bill Thomas, KPMG’s global chairman and CEO since 2017.
Wingrove, who was nominated by the KPMG Global Board and elected by its Global Council, will begin his four‑year term on Oct. 1, 2026.
As global COO, Wingrove has helped shape and execute KPMG’s global strategy, leading major advances in operational integration, regional clustering, global investment alignment, alliance expansion, and the ongoing growth of the KPMG Delivery Network, the firm said.
He has also overseen the firm’s digital transformation and the adoption of AI‑enabled solutions across the global organization.
Before becoming global COO in 2022, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia from 2013 to 2021. During his time in charge, the firm’s revenue, profitability, and headcount doubled.
Wingrove, who is also a member of the KPMG Global Management Team, said in a statement, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead our talented colleagues around the world and help create an environment where they can thrive. KPMG is a people‑first business—enabled by technology, strengthened by our culture, and unified by a global network of member firms that enables our teams to bring the best of KPMG’s expertise to clients wherever they are. As client needs evolve, I am committed to ensuring we bring agility, deep expertise, and AI‑enabled solutions to help them navigate complexity, manage risk, and seize opportunities with confidence. I’m deeply grateful to Bill for his leadership, friendship, and support and I look forward to building on the strong platform he has created.”
Thomas has led KPMG through a period of significant transformation and global growth, positioning the firm as the fastest growing of the Big Four global accounting firm networks for the past two years. Under his leadership, global revenues have increased by 55% since 2017 (on a constant‑currency basis), and the firm has grown to more than 276,000 people worldwide.
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Thomas is credited with creating and embedding KPMG’s global strategy, aligning member firms behind shared priorities, refreshed governance, and a unified global ambition. He also oversaw the firm’s multibillion-dollar global investment program and deepened KPMG’s alliances with partners, such as Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle, and ServiceNow, to deliver AI‑enabled solutions at scale.
“It’s been an honor to lead KPMG over the last nine years, and I’m so proud of the impact the team around the globe has made for our clients, our people, and society,” Thomas said in a statement. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Gary for more than 20 years. He is an outstanding leader, and I’m confident that under his leadership, KPMG will reach new heights in the years to come.”
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Tags: accounting firms, Bill Thomas, ceo, Firm Management, Gary Wingrove, KPMG
