Inspiring the future

New partners at KPMG

KPMG has announced seven new partners reinforcing our commitment to innovation and growth.

Announcing the new partners, Ryan McCarthy, Managing Partner at KPMG in Ireland said,: “We’re proud to welcome our new partners Susan, Chris, James, Wes, Colm, Claire and Chris appointed on 1 November this year. Their insights and expertise will help drive future growth and success for our clients.”

The new partners are Susan Buggle (Tax), Chris Cadden (Consulting), James Gleeson (Audit), Wes Jesson (Advisory), Colm O’Connor (Audit), Claire Waters (Tax) and Chris Wood (Audit).

Ryan McCarthy

Managing Partner

KPMG in Ireland

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Meet our new partners

Susan Buggle

Susan is from Dublin and a partner in the International Tax group in KPMG with over 15 years’ experience both with KPMG and in a tax director role in industry. She advises a diverse range of Irish headquartered and multinational clients on Irish and international tax. Her clients include Irish and multinational public companies across a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, retail, technology and software. Susan has significant experience in international tax, intellectual property planning, complex financing transactions and group reorganisations. She has extensive M&A experience advising on the structuring of complex Irish and international acquisitions, leading due diligence assignments and post deal integration. She is a member of the firm’s FDI team advising multinational groups on their foreign direct investment into Ireland. Susan has a BComm and Masters of Accounting from UCD. She is a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Chris Cadden

Chris, a Dublin native, serves as a partner in our Consulting practice, specialising in Finance Transformation and Performance. With more than 17 years of experience, Chris has provided guidance to clients in Audit, CFO Advisory, and Management Consulting. Chris’ core expertise includes designing and delivering finance function transformation, commercial finance, and leads the Digital Finance practice in KPMG. Chris’ experience spans Europe, the US, and Australia, and he leads the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications sector for Consulting, as well as working in the wider corporate and the public sectors. Chris is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from DCU, and has earned certificates in leadership, lean, and project management..

James Gleeson

James is a partner in our Audit practice with extensive experience in providing assurance and advisory services across a broad range of sectors from a variety of jurisdictions. For the past six years, he has been fully dedicated to our Aircraft Leasing and Aviation Finance practice. In addition to the provision of assurance services to international and Irish-based lessors, James supports clients on accounting matters related to mergers, acquisitions and capital market transactions. James holds a Bachelor of Business & Legal Studies from University College Dublin, is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and is licenced as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York, USA..

Wes Jesson

Wes is Head of Construction Advisory at KPMG. From Portmarnock, Dublin, Wes is a chartered quantity surveyor with over 20 years’ experience across Ireland, Europe and the Middle East, and he joined the firm in January 2023. Wes leads a growing team that supports clients in the successful delivery of complex construction projects, with a particular focus on data centres, energy infrastructure, commercial and residential developments, and workplace fit outs. His clients include major tech firms, private developers, and public sector bodies. Passionate about the opportunities in the data centre and energy sectors, Wes brings practical expertise and strategic perspective to every engagement. He holds a BSc in Construction Economics and Management and is a member of both the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Colm O'Connor

Colm is a Chartered Accountant (ACA) and Audit partner at KPMG. Originally from Ballinteer, Dublin, Colm joined the firm in 2012 as a graduate and provides audit and assurance services to a wide range of Irish and international clients—public and private, small to large. His experience spans multiple sectors including technology, retail, manufacturing, gaming, and real estate and construction. Colm holds a BComm International degree with French from University College Dublin.

Claire Waters

Claire is a Tax Partner at KPMG and is from Dublin. She joined the firm in October 2011 and specialises in Aviation Finance and Asset Management. Her clients include large balance sheet lessors, private equity-backed asset managers, and aircraft parts traders. Claire advises on a wide range of complex transactions including capital markets deals, mergers and acquisitions, multi-jurisdictional portfolio transfers, and strategic tax structuring. Every day brings new challenges, and she enjoys advising on the Irish and international tax treatment of her clients’ businesses at every stage of their life cycle. Claire holds a DPhil in English Literature from Oxford, a MPhil in Renaissance Literature from Cambridge, and a BA from Trinity College Dublin. She is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Irish Tax Institute.

Chris Wood

Based in KPMG’s Cork office, Chris is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland with extensive experience in audit and assurance. Originally from Cork, Chris joined the firm in 2009 and supports clients across Munster and nationally. He advises large listed and privately owned Irish and international businesses, delivering audit and assurance services across sectors including manufacturing, retail, food and agri, energy, and technology. Passionate about supporting both growing Irish indigenous companies and global listed groups, Chris brings a practical, client-focused approach to every engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Cork and is committed to helping businesses navigate complex financial reporting and regulatory requirements.