After Richard Rekhy, Arun M. Kumar takes over as chairman & CEO of KPMG India

Kumar will fulfil a five-year term, beginning 5 February, 2017.

After its former CEO, Richard Rekhy, resigned in November last year, KPMG India recently elected Arun M. Kumar as chairman and chief executive officer of the firm for a five-year term, beginning 5 February , 2017.

Kumar has been elected by the KPMG India Board and ratified by the India Partners. The firm executed a well-defined governance process for the selection of the CEO that aligns with the objective of building on its success as well as attracting the best talent available for this role.

Kumar brings in vast international leadership experience to KPMG India, including his tenure in public service in the United States for the last three years, as assistant secretary of commerce for Global Markets and director general of US and foreign commercial service in the Obama Administration. In that role, he led a global organisation of senior professionals present in 78 countries and all the 50 states in the US, and served with distinction.

On behalf of the US government, Kumar also worked to strengthen commercial ties between India and the United States, and played a key role in establishing the India-US strategic & commercial dialogue and a renewed India-US CEO forum.

On his appointment, Kumar says, “I am honoured to have been elected as the chairman and CEO of KPMG in India. I have worked closely with the people of KPMG India for many years and have always been impressed by their world class talent. I am excited to have this opportunity to work with the KPMG team in India to continue to build an organisation that is recognised for its quality and for its impact on its clients, people and the community in general.”

Kumar has in the past, spent the majority of his career with KPMG in the US, including serving on the KPMG US and KPMG Americas Boards from 2008–2013. He led management consulting / finance management, for the West region of KPMG, US from 2005 to 2013.He has also served on KPMG’s global management consulting leadership team.

John Veihmeyer, chairman, KPMG International says “Our global clients recognise the increasing significance of India as the fastest growing major economy in the world. I am delighted to welcome Kumar back to KPMG. He is a trusted leader, who is recognised for his integrity, strategic vision and enduring relationships and I am confident that under his leadership, KPMG India will continue to provide exceptional service to our clients, enhance our brand and further strengthen our reputation for the highest quality”.

Over the past four years, KPMG in India has seen brisk growth not just in revenues, but workforce strength that doubled over the last four years. The firm has introduced many new offerings and inducted over 70 partners laterally to broaden its skill base and strengthen its delivery capabilities.