KPMG began in its present form in 1987, when Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler and their respective member firms merged. 

The name ‘KPMG’ derived from the first letter of four key surnames in the brand’s history:

K = Klynveld

Piet Klynveld founded the accounting firm Klynveld Kraayenhof & Co in Amsterdam in 1917.

P= Peat

William Barclay Peat took charge of an accounting firm in London in 1891 and renamed it W.B. Peat & Co.

M = Marwick

James Marwick established the accounting firm Marwick Mitchell & Co in New York City in 1897.

G = Goerdeler

Dr Reinhard Goerdeler was the first president of the International Federation of Accountants and a chairman of KPMG. He was instrumental in the formation of Klynveld Main Goerdeler, a key precursor of today’s KPMG. 

In Australia, KPMG traces its origins to 1895 when Frederick J. Smith opened an accounting practice in Sydney. F.J. Smith’s firm became part of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co in 1949, which in turn became KPMG Peat Marwick in 1990. In 1998, KPMG in Australia united its various state and regional affiliates to form a national network.