'We have serious work to do on our culture, our leadership, and our governance,' Sams says
KPMG Australia has named John Sams as its chief executive officer, who vowed to restore confidence in the Big Four firm that is dealing with the fallout from the audit scandal.
The Board of KPMG Australia announced the appointment on Tuesday. Sams has been the company's chief financial officer since October 2025 and its chief operating officer since June 2026.
Sams' appointment comes after a leadership exodus at KPMG Australia, which became the subject of multiple independent reviews following a whistleblower scandal in which the firm was accused of misusing confidential client documents.
"I do not underestimate the task ahead but commit to our clients and people that I am prepared to be courageous, take the tough decisions and lead the changes we need to set us on the right path," Sams said.
"The firm fell short of the standards rightly expected of us, and the accountability for these failures will continue to be implemented. We have serious work to do on our culture, our leadership, and our governance and it will take resolve and endurance."
Delivering KPMG's Action Plan
KPMG Australia has unveiled an Action Plan aimed at addressing the company's "integrity issues" through an overhaul in governance and updating its conduct and consequences framework.
Sams has vowed to deliver the Action Plan in full, saying he aims to provide clear leadership and make "measurable progress" on KPMG's culture, integrity, and transparency.
"I will lead the changes that will make us better, whatever that takes. My immediate focus is to provide confidence to our clients and people," he said. "We will continue to engage openly and constructively with the Parliamentary Joint Committee and our regulators."
Sams' appointment followed a "rigorous process" that was overseen by a panel comprising Mike Ebeid AM, Jennifer Westacott AC and Kerry Schott AO.
Sams has been with KPMG for more than a decade, starting his career with KPMG in the United Kingdom before relocating to Australia. He brings with him over 20 years of experience across tax, corporate finance, and infrastructure advisory.
"On behalf of the Board, I thank Stan for stepping into the Interim CEO role at a very difficult time," Ebeid said.
"He did so without hesitation, reflecting his deep commitment to the firm, our clients and our people. We are grateful for his service and wish him well for the future."
