Lifelong KPMG veteran’s appointment as CEO draws pointed response
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Sams was elevated from his role of chief financial officer to CEO on Tuesday after rising through KPMG's ranks in Australia and overseas since 2003. There is no suggestion Sams was personally involved in any misconduct, but as chief financial officer of KPMG since October last year he was on the firm's leadership team. During that period, numerous senior executives at the firm resigned amid its stumbling response to revelations that some of KPMG's most senior staff allegedly accessed confidential client information to win new customers. KPMG chairman Michael Ebeid said Sams would lead the firm's efforts to fix its integrity issues. "John has a clear mandate from the board: to strengthen leadership and culture, improve confidence with our people, clients, regulators, government and the parliament, and focus KPMG on the areas where it can make the greatest contribution to our clients, people and stakeholders," Ebeid said. Sams reiterated the firm's mistakes in a statement. "The firm fell short of the standards rightly expected of us, and the accountability for these failures will continue to be implemented," he said. "We have serious work to do on our culture, our leadership and our governance and it will take resolve and endurance."