Key facts
- Gary Wingrove is the new global chairman and CEO of KPMG, overseeing 276,000 employees.
- Wingrove previously served as CEO of KPMG Australia and international COO.
- KPMG is the smallest of the Big Four professional services firms by employee numbers and revenue.
- KPMG's annual revenue grew 5.1% in 2025 to $39.8 billion.
- Audit revenue grew 6%, tax revenue grew 7.5%, and advisory grew 2.9% in 2025.
- Wingrove faces challenges integrating AI, adapting pricing models, and rebuilding trust after scandals.
Gary Wingrove has assumed the role of global chairman and CEO of KPMG, one of the Big Four professional services firms, succeeding Bill Thomas. Wingrove, who joined KPMG in 2000 and previously led KPMG Australia and served as international COO, now oversees more than 276,000 employees across a global network of legally separate member firms.
Wingrove faces a complex set of challenges, including the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the firm's services and operations. AI presents both a significant growth opportunity and a management hurdle, as it is already altering the nature of junior-level work and prompting a reevaluation of training and talent development strategies. James Ransome, a partner at Patrick Morgan, noted that AI is reducing the value of junior, research-heavy tasks, raising questions about how firms will train future managers.
Financially, KPMG is the smallest of the Big Four. In 2025, its annual revenue grew 5.1% to $39.8 billion, with audit revenue up 6% and tax revenue up 7.5%. However, advisory services grew only 2.9%, lagging behind competitors. The consulting market is becoming tougher, with economic uncertainty pressuring prices while firms must invest heavily in technology like AI. Emma Carroll of Source Global Research indicated strong demand for external support services, with two-thirds of organizations expecting to increase their use of external help.
Integrating KPMG's global network is another key challenge. The firm has historically been the least integrated of the Big Four, with siloed practices. Wingrove's new Connected 2030 strategy aims to create a more connected, agile, and innovative organization. His prior experience as Global COO may position him well to balance the tension between local regulatory independence and the need for global cooperation, according to Ransome.
Furthermore, Wingrove must address recent scandals, particularly an audit-confidentiality issue at KPMG Australia, to rebuild trust.