KPMG Australia's David Linke appointed to global role

David Linke, a partner at KPMG in Australia, has been named KPMG’s next Global Head of Tax & Legal services. 

Sydney-based Linke has been with KPMG for nearly three decades, having joined the professional services firm straight out of university. During his long career at the Big Four accounting and consulting firm, Linke has held several leadership roles, both in Australia as well as internationally. 

He is currently the Asia Pacific Regional Leader for Tax, as well as the Head of Tax, Deals and Legal for KPMG Australia, serving on the International Tax Steering Group and on the KPMG regional board in the Asia Pacific. Previously, Linke was a Board Member of KPMG Australia, National Corporate Tax Leader and Head of the M&A Tax team. 

Under Linke’s leadership, KPMG over the past years expanded its footprint in Asia Pacific’s tax advisory and technology market. Meanwhile, in Australia, he played an essential role in building KPMG Law into one of the most successful practices in KPMG's international network.

In his new position, effective 1 October 2020, Linke will oversee a team of 30,000 professionals across KPMG’s office footprint in 100+ countries. He succeeds Jane McCormick who led the Global Tax & Legal network for the past four years. Linke will serve on KPMG’s Global Management Team, operating alongside other division heads Mark Goodburn (Advisory) and Larry Bradley (Audit).

The 12-strong team is led by Chairman Bill Thomas, who said: “In his remarkable career, David has built a well-deserved reputation in market for taking a creative approach to complex business challenges, and helping clients to do the same. This is precisely the kind of leadership needed today, and I am confident that David will be able to build successfully on the momentum gained for the practice under Jane McCormick’s leadership.”

Departing leader McCormick added, “I am pleased to pass the torch to David, a valued leader whose relentless focus on and knowledge of the global tax landscape, as well as the new realities facing the profession, will yield meaningful results for our global network and member firm clients.”

Linke himself said: “It is humbling and exciting to be preparing to lead KPMG’s Tax & Legal network.”