KPMG Australia appointed John Sams as chief executive with immediate effect amid a whistleblower scandal and governance concerns, following the departure of the previous leadership.

Sams, who has served as chief financial officer since October 2025 and chief operating officer since June, was selected after a rigorous internal and external search overseen by independent chairman Michael Ebeid, with the board stressing agility, courage, and integrity.

The leadership overhaul includes addressing culture, leadership, and governance to restore confidence among staff, clients, regulators, and government, and to steer the firm through the ongoing scrutiny.

Sams takes over the non-impacted tax, corporate finance, and infrastructure advisory division and is tasked with strengthening leadership and rebuilding trust across stakeholders.

In tandem with the leadership change, Sams is charged with reinforcing culture and restoring confidence among staff, clients, regulators, and Parliament as part of a broader governance and integrity push.

The whistleblower allegations emerged after being raised in 2024 and publicly surfaced in March, fueling ongoing scrutiny of KPMG’s practices.

The upheaval comes amid whistleblower accusations that some staff used inside information to win audit contracts, drawing government and client scrutiny since March.

Several top executives, including the former CEO and audit head, along with senior partners, have left the firm as part of efforts to restore trust.

The board’s cleansing effort included a thorough search and the emphasis on leadership attributes such as agility, courage, and integrity in selecting Sams.

Geopolitical tensions, especially related to Iran, are influencing perceptions of Australia’s housing market and economy, with potential spillovers from developments in China.

New leadership promises transparency and sustained action, aiming to demonstrate tangible changes to rebuild trust.

Independent chairman Michael Ebeid notes the board’s mandate to reassess priorities and manage headcount reductions as part of the transition, with decisions pending the new CEO’s arrival.