KPMG Chairman Resigns After Whistleblower Problem

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:15 am

KPMG chairman Martin Sheppard is leaving.

KPMG Australia chair Martin Sheppard and two audit partners are leaving due to a scandal over misusing client information and mistreating a whistleblower.

Mr. Sheppard will leave the firm soon and retire from his regional board duties.

Eileen Hoggett and audit partner Paul Rogers are also leaving the firm.

KPMG will appoint its first independent chair after a short transition period.

The departures follow revelations about KPMG Australia's misuse of client information and mistreatment of a whistleblower.

KPMG announces changes in governance

KPMG has unveiled a governance overhaul, including appointing its first independent chair and adding independent directors.

New board committees will oversee audit quality, ethics, and whistleblower matters.

The firm has launched an external review into its handling of the whistleblower matter and related failings. An external review will be made public.

KPMG will strengthen its internal controls, including updating its whistleblower policies and reviewing its misconduct framework.

The firm said it would cooperate with an independent review commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Finance.

Interim chief executive Stan Stavros said the firm had not met expected standards.

The decisions announced today are necessary, and the firm did not meet the standards expected of it.

Trust will only be rebuilt through sustained action and demonstrable change.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:15 am

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:47 am

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