KPMG names COO Gary Wingrove next global CEO pending Global Council approval

The Financial Times reported that KPMG’s global board has recommended Gary Wingrove as the firm’s next global chief executive following an anonymous vote at a late-February meeting, with the appointment still subject to ratification by KPMG’s Global Council. Wingrove is currently KPMG global chief operating officer and previously led KPMG Australia from 2013 to 2021.

Wingrove joined KPMG’s global management team in January 2022 and, according to FT reporting, has “been behind some of the most transformational aspects” of the firm’s recent strategy. The FT-cited source added those aspects included “multibillion-dollar investments in technology and AI,” positioning Wingrove as the candidate who has driven closer integration across national partnerships since joining global management.

The FT report and subsequent summaries said Wingrove “reportedly” doubled profits during his tenure as KPMG Australia CEO; the exact figures and timeframe for that claim were not provided in the coverage. The FT account also said Wingrove beat UK chief Jon Holt in the selection process. GlobalData noted Holt has led KPMG UK for nearly five years, guided the merger of KPMG’s UK and Swiss member entities, and “was widely regarded as an early front-runner” who campaigned on a platform of change for the company.

KPMG’s global board recommendation now must be formally approved by the Global Council, the broader body made up of leaders of all member companies, before any leadership handover can be confirmed. Current KPMG International CEO Bill Thomas’ term is scheduled to end on 30 September, and FT-derived reporting framed the succession as taking place later in 2026 pending ratification.

Reuters and multiple reprints carried caveats noting that the FT was the origin of the selection report and that independent confirmation was not immediately available. Reuters said, “Reuters could not immediately verify the report,” and added that “KPMG did not immediately respond to our request for comment.” At the time of the March 4, 2026 wave of reports, no formal statement from KPMG confirming the board recommendation or providing a vote tally had been published.

Reporting to the Global Council and a formal announcement from KPMG would establish an effective date and the mechanics of any transition from Bill Thomas to Gary Wingrove. If the Global Council ratifies the board’s recommendation, Wingrove would move from global COO to global CEO role sometime after Thomas’ scheduled 30 September end of term, carrying forward the integration, consolidation and technology priorities highlighted in the FT account.