Governance

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Our firm

Governance

In line with our purpose and values, our approach to governance is focused on transparency, fairness, accountability and responsibility.

Our purpose

We inspire confidence and empower change in all that we do
By inspiring confidence in our clients, people and communities, we help empower the change needed to solve the toughest challenges and lead the way forward.

Our Values

Our Values are the foundation of everything we do and every action we take. They are core to who we are as a firm and what it means to work at KPMG. They define the expectations we have of each other and are the first step to helping us achieve our purpose.

Integrity

We do what is right

Excellence

We never stop learning and improving

Courage

We think and act boldly

Together

We respect each other and draw strength from our differences

For Better

We do what matters

Our governance structure

In line with our purpose and values, our approach to governance is focused on transparency, fairness, accountability and responsibility.

KPMG UK and KPMG Switzerland merged on 1 October 2024. Melissa Geiger, as Group Board Chair, oversees the stewardship, accountability and leadership of the Group. Melissa is responsible for ensuring the Group Board fulfils its responsibilities to set the tone from the top, including approval and oversight of Group strategy and holding senior leadership to account.

Jon Holt, Group Chief Executive and UK Senior Partner, is responsible for leading the whole business of the multi-disciplinary firm and is accountable for the executive leadership’s execution of the Group Board’s approved strategy. The Group Chief Executive is accountable to the Group Board and the partners in fulfilling these responsibilities.

While the new Group’s ultimate governance body is the Group Board, chaired by Melissa Geiger, KPMG UK and KPMG Switzerland are still subject to their respective laws and regulatory regimes. Bina Mehta remains UK Board Chair as well as a member of the Group Board, working closely with Melissa to ensure close cooperation between the UK and Group Boards. Bina is responsible for ensuring the UK Board fulfils its legal and regulatory obligations in the UK, while also overseeing financial performance and risk management of KPMG UK.

Independent oversight of KPMG UK is sought from the Independent Non-Executives (INEs) and Audit Non-Executives (ANEs). The INE’s and the Chair of the Audit Board (an ANE) are invited to attend all UK Board meetings and the Chair of the Public Interest Committee is a non-voting member of the Group Board. In addition, one INE is invited to each of the UK Board Committee meetings. The INEs and ANEs are members of the Public Interest Committee and Audit Board.

Governance structure as at 1 Oct 2024

Read more: Our leadership

Governing ESG at KPMG

We believe sustainable growth is the only way to build a successful business and have a lasting impact on the world. So, we’re leading by example. Our commitment to good governance of ESG spans all the way to Board level.

To us, good governance of ESG is much broader than the oversight of data or reporting, it requires a fundamental transformation of all processes involved in running a business, and a significant mindset shift towards sustainability-focused thinking. The activities of our Board and Board Committees this year have demonstrated this in action.

Here are some examples of the ESG-related activities our Board and Board Committees have conducted in 2024:

Example of Board and Board Committee ESG activities during 2024
  • The UK Board monitored the effectiveness of the firm’s ESG Governance approach (delegated to Board committees).
  • The UK Board oversaw the firm’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) strategy.
  • The UK Board oversaw the firm’s ethical health and ethical programmes.
  • The UK Board monitored progress towards our Culture Ambition through KPIs and delivery of our key people programmes.
  • The Audit and Risk Committee oversaw the independent assurance process over, and approval of, ESG disclosures in the Annual Report, including those within the Planet Impact Report, Partner Diversity Report and Community Impact Report.
  • The People Committee monitored the diversity and inclusion targets for both partners and staff.
  • The Public Interest Committee considered the firm’s compliance with the firm’s Code of Conduct. This includes regular private updates from the Head of Ethics and Independence, including the number of cases reported to the firm’s independently run Speak Up whistleblowing hotline.
  • The former Risk Committee monitored the firm’s Ethics and independence including the Ombudsman’s reports on Speak Up and this responsibility has been passed to the Audit and Risk Committee from 1 October 2024 onwards