KPMG in Canada has announced the appointment of Benjie Thomas as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. Thomas will succeed Elio Luongo, who is concluding two consecutive terms on September 30, 2024.
Thomas, a member of KPMG’s management committee and Managing Partner of the firm’s advisory business since 2016, also serves as the National Industry Leader for Private Equity and Pension Funds. He has held this role since 2006.
“I am honoured to serve as the next CEO of KPMG in Canada, a firm with a history of over 150 years in this country,” said Thomas. “I am a proud child of immigrants who instilled in me the values of education, work ethic, resilience, entrepreneurship, community, family, and faith. These values will guide my leadership.”
Thomas emphasized the challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian economy, highlighting the importance of navigating emerging technologies. “My priority as CEO will be to help Canadian businesses navigate these times with agility and confidence as we continue to put our clients at the center of everything we do,” he added.
At 49, Thomas brings over two decades of professional services experience to his new role. He is a highly sought-after strategic advisor to Canadian private equity firms and pension funds, having counselled on some of Canada’s most significant transactions.
Thomas joined KPMG in 1998 after graduating from the University of Waterloo’s accounting program. He began his career in KPMG’s audit enterprise practice in London, Ontario, before transitioning to the advisory practice in Toronto.
In 2019, he was named a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), the highest distinction for a CPA. Last year, he was re-elected as a Council-Member-at-Large of the CPA Ontario Council.
Elio Luongo, the outgoing CEO, praised Thomas’s dedication and leadership. “Having worked alongside Benjie on the firm’s management committee for the past eight years, I have seen first-hand his dedication to supporting clients, colleagues, and communities. He is a respected leader with a collaborative approach and a steadfast commitment to quality and innovation,” said Luongo.
During Luongo’s tenure, KPMG in Canada has grown significantly, expanding to over 10,000 employees and 1,000 partners. The firm has invested heavily in technology, including developing a proprietary generative AI platform and upskilling its workforce in emerging technologies to better serve clients.
Luongo also prioritized Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, launching initiatives such as the Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan in 2022 and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan in January 2024. The firm has received numerous accolades, including recognition for Best Workplaces™ with Most Trusted Executive Teams in 2024.
KPMG LLP, a full-service Audit, Tax, and Advisory firm, has been serving Canadians for over 150 years. With more than 10,000 employees in over 40 locations across Canada, KPMG is dedicated to empowering change, driving innovation, and upholding its core values of Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better.