David Heathcote

David made the successful transition from investment banking to professional services in 2009, after returning from the UK to lead KPMG’s Australian Debt Advisory business. He now proudly states he has been at KPMG longer than any other institution during his career, which has allowed him to take on many diverse and challenging roles, including National Executive Committee member, National Managing Partner for Deals, Tax & Legal, Service Group Head for Deal Advisory, and Global Head of Debt Advisory.

David’s responsibilities today include Head of Banking and Capital Markets, in addition to Global Lead Partner for a large global financial services group. “Transitioning through leadership roles at the highest level of the firm to moving back into client focused roles in a sector where I commenced my career provides me with a level of familiarity but also opportunity to learn. It can be complex and challenging at the same time, but creating value and finding solutions for clients where others can’t is really very rewarding.” He also loves working in partnership with valued clients, “where you are leveraging off different skillsets from across the firm globally to get an optimal outcome”.

Among other things, David’s years in the United Kingdom taught him how not to behave. “Witnessing the financial crisis in London firsthand, you saw how important your own ethics and morals were in building respect, sustained relationships and resilience.”