KPMG names new national ESG and Risk Consulting leaders KPMG names new national ESG and Risk Consulting leaders KPMG names new national ESG and Risk Consulting leaders

KPMG in Canada announced that Doron Telem has taken on the newly created role as National Leader of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and Nancy Chase succeeds him as the firm's National Leader of Risk Consulting.

Mr. Telem takes on the role of National Leader of ESG to drive KPMG's ESG strategy and help clients embed sustainability into their businesses. He served as National Leader of Risk Consulting for the past eight years and recently concluded a five-year term as KPMG International's Global Chief Operating Officer for Risk Consulting. During his time leading Risk Consulting, he founded KPMG Lighthouse in Canada, a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.

Ms. Chase brings more than 25 years of experience in internal audit, risk management and governance in both the private and public sectors to her new role as National Leader of Risk Consulting. She will continue to serve as the firm's Advisory Business Unit Leader for Eastern Canada, covering the National Capital Region, Southwestern and Northern Ontario, and Atlantic Canada, a position she's held since 2016. As a Risk Consulting partner, Ms. Chase led the firm's Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act Section 404 readiness services to the technology sector, supporting the success and growth of some of Canada's largest global tech companies.

"I want to congratulate Nancy and Doron on their new positions and thank them for their continued trusted leadership with the firm and our clients," says Benjie Thomas, KPMG's Canadian Managing Partner, Advisory. "The pandemic tested the resiliency of every single organization and prompted them to reassess their risks and integrate ESG into every component of their businesses. Both roles – ESG and Risk Consulting – are more important to our clients than ever as Canada emerges from the pandemic and transitions to a net-zero carbon future."

Nearly four in five (78 per cent) Canadian companies in a recent KPMG in Canada survey said they've increased their commitment to make a difference on environmental and social issues and over three in five (63 per cent) said major global challenges, such as income inequality and climate change, threaten their company's long-term growth and value prospects. In KPMG International's annual Global CEO Outlook survey, 75 per cent of CEOs at some of Canada's largest and most-influential companies said they face increased demands from stakeholders (shareholders, regulators, and customers) for more reporting on ESG issues.

"ESG is rapidly transforming business strategies, models, and operations," says Kristy Carscallen, KPMG's Canadian Managing Partner, Audit & Assurance. "Companies are facing a barrage of information requests for detailed climate disclosures from investors, lenders, insurers, and major customers, who are aggressively pursuing their own low carbon transition commitments and targets. The need for companies to rapidly accelerate their efforts in producing detailed and effective climate-related disclosure is becoming increasingly paramount to their ability to attract and raise capital."

In his new role, Mr. Telem leads a cross-functional team across Advisory, Tax, Audit and Assurance, and KPMG Law LLP, working closely with Bill Murphy, Senior Partner, ESG, and KPMG's global network. This team continues to build on KPMG's market-leading core ESG services and brings the full value of the firm's diverse insights, expertise and global connectivity to help organizations address the complexities of this rapidly changing space.

Jessica Botelho
National Communications
KPMG in Canada
(416) 777-8992
Jbotelho@kpmg.ca