KPMG UK appoints first female leaders in 150 years
Multinational consultancy firm, KPMG has appointed its first female leaders in its 150-year history, replacing its UK boss, Bill Michael, who was forced to step aside.
Bina Mehta has been asked to step in as acting chairman and Mary O’Connor will take over Mr Michael’s day-to-day executive responsibilities as acting senior partner.
Mr Michael faces an investigation over alleged offensive remarks he made. He reportedly told consultants to “stop moaning” about the pandemic’s impact.
Mr Michael has stepped aside while the investigation is carried out into his alleged comments made during an online meeting on Monday, February 8th.
It has also been reported that he told staff to stop “playing the victim card” dismissing staff concerns about job stress during Covid-19. He later apologised, saying the comments did not reflect his beliefs. Mr Michael has run KPMG UK since 2017 as chairman and senior partner.
The accounting giant, which employs more than 220,000 people globally, immediately began an “independent investigation” which will be carried out by law firm Linklaters.
His remarks triggered angry responses from some staff on an app used to post comments anonymously during the meeting.
Mr Michael, who was hospitalized with Covid-19 last year, has presided over a rocky period at KPMG.
The firm has faced scrutiny over its audit of Carillion, the government contractor that collapsed under £1bn of debt in 2018. There have also been claims from some staff of a toxic work culture.
Last week the company’s UK business revealed that Mr Michael was paid £1.7m in 2020, down from £1.98m in 2019
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