KPMG LLP has announced the election of Timothy J. Walsh as its next U.S. Chair and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2025. Walsh, a 33-year veteran of the firm, will succeed Paul Knopp, who has led the U.S. operations since 2020. Concurrently, Atif Zaim has been elected as Deputy Chair, taking over from Laura Newinski.
Walsh currently serves as the national managing partner for U.S. Audit operations. Throughout his tenure at KPMG, he has held various leadership roles, including New York Metro Audit partner-in-charge and industry sector leader for the Consumer Products & Retail business. His extensive experience encompasses serving large, multinational clients across sectors such as consumer products, retail, industrial manufacturing, and media/advertising, with a particular focus on publicly listed companies .
In a statement, Walsh expressed his vision for the firm’s future: “We are entering an unprecedented era of transformation driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and automation. Winning companies are making the right strategic moves on talent, technology, and growth. Insights that disrupt institutional inertia, innovation that creates new markets, and leaders that build trust with employees, customers, and investors will be the difference makers” .
Atif Zaim, the incoming Deputy Chair, brings a wealth of experience from his current role as U.S. Consulting Leader. Previously, he served as the national managing principal of the Advisory practice. Zaim’s career at KPMG began in 1994 in London, and he became a partner in 2003. His expertise lies in leading high-profile financial services clients and driving transformation in finance, operations, and risk functions .
Zaim emphasized the firm’s commitment to innovation and client service: “KPMG will continue to offer clients access to the best people and services, and the new and necessary solutions to accelerate transformation. Tim and I are dedicated to engaging the C-suite to remain at the forefront of innovation, while continuing to foster a high-performance culture that supports all our people” .
The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for KPMG. Under Knopp and Newinski’s tenure, the firm experienced significant growth, with revenues increasing from $9.57 billion in 2020 to $12.6 billion in 2024. Their leadership also saw substantial investments in innovation and technology, enhanced global connectivity, and improvements in audit quality, including the firm’s lowest deficiency rate since 2009 .
As the professional services landscape continues to evolve rapidly, KPMG’s new leadership aims to position the firm at the forefront of industry transformation. With a focus on technological advancement, client-centric solutions, and talent development, Walsh and Zaim are set to steer KPMG through the challenges and opportunities of the coming years.
