KPMG is facing the prospect of an early leadership contest to head its British operations if its current boss is elected as the accountancy giant’s global boss.
Sky News understands that Jon Holt, who is serving a second term as chief executive of KPMG in the UK, is “highly likely” to stand for the global chair role currently occupied by Bill Thomas, according to several industry sources.
An election to that job is expected to kick off next spring, with the successful candidate taking over in October.
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Mr Holt is widely viewed internally as the likeliest candidate to win the race to head KPMG International, although one source cautioned that he could still choose not to stand.
His second term running KPMG’s UK and Swiss businesses – which merged last year – is due to expire in September 2029.
Insiders at the firm are now beginning to speculate on potential successors to run the British arm, which ranks among the biggest professional services jobs in the country.
Mr Holt has held the post since 2021.
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In a statement, a KPMG International spokesman said: “Bill Thomas’s term as KPMG International chairman and CEO runs to 30 September, 2026.
“KPMG International has a process for electing a new chairman and we expect to announce succession plans in the first quarter of 2026.”
A spokesman for KPMG UK declined to comment on Mr Holt’s behalf.
