KPMG makes several senior appointments in Aussie business

Big Four firm KPMG has made several senior appointments in its Australian business.

Professional services firm KPMG has promoted Tim Robinson to head up its Australian technology consulting wing, with current partner-in-charge Richard Marrison stepping up to lead the practice for the Asia Pacific.

Other recent national appointments include James Stewart as head of consumer and retail, with PwC’s former national education & skills leader Chris Matthews also set to join the firm from the beginning of next year.

Based out of Melbourne, Tim Robinson has been with KPMG for the past seven years, joining the firm as a partner upon its 2016 acquisition of his fintech business Markets IT. Presently head of KPMG’s local data & AI division, Robinson will step into his new role from the beginning of next year, where he’ll oversee a 1,200-strong team of technology and business specialists and be tasked with driving KPMG’s work in AI and other emerging tech.

“I’m excited to be taking on the challenge of developing the firm’s capabilities during what is being called ‘the fourth industrial revolution’ – a neologism capturing the rapid technological advancement in the 21st century,” Robinson stated. “For years, our team has been the driving force behind our clients moving onto cloud-based systems, and that work will continue, but it is the first step in a wider evolution.”

Richard Marrison takes over from Richard Marrison, who has led the tech advisory division in Australia for the past ten years and will now take on the role for the Asia Pacific. Originally joining from the UK, Marrison has held numerous senior roles during his more than two decades with the firm, including as national insurance sector lead and head of financial services for management consulting. He will also serve as partner-in-charge for KPMG Australia’s deals enablement & review board.

“We are delighted to have Tim step up to lead our technology consulting business and help more organisations to successfully unlock the power of tech,” said consulting boss Paul Howes. Beyond his technical know-how, Tim is a business founder and leader who is hugely respected among his team, clients and industry peers. We also congratulate Richard on his promotion to a senior regional role at KPMG, having steered the tech team here for ten years.”

KPMG’s former national restructuring leader James Stewart has now been appointed as head of consumer and retail, a role he held at Ferrier Hodgson prior to its acquisition by KPMG in 2019. Stewart spent over three decades with the former, including as chairman of partners, and has overseen engagements with some of Australia’s most well-known retailers, including Jeanswest, Harris Scarfe, Colorado, and Dick Smith Electronics.

KPMG has also lured PwC’s former national education & skills leader Chris Matthews to its partnership, which he’ll join from the beginning of the next year after spending the past two decades with PwC. Since joining as an associate in London and then arriving in Melbourne, Matthews has held a number of leadership roles at the firm, including COO of PwC’s national Risk & Capital management unit and finance consulting leader for Victoria.