KPMG announces new Midlands regional chair
BIG Four accountants and business advisor KPMG has announced its successor to Mike Steventon as Midlands chairman.
Karl Edge will move into the role from January. He is currently senior partner for the firm’s Milton Keynes and Watford offices.
Mr Steventon, who has held the role since 2012 following the retirement of Steve Hollis, is moving to lead the firm’s public sector and healthcare practice nationally.
The move sees Mr Edge returning to the Birmingham office, where he joined the professional services firm in 1991 and spent 22 years before moving to take on the reins for Milton Keynes and Watford.
He is a Chartered Accountant with a business development background, and prior to his current role, he was head of markets for the firm’s Midlands practice, leading relationships with various local clients.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “To take over the helm of the Midlands practice is an exciting opportunity. Having been involved in the Midlands over many years, it is clear to me that the region is changing and there is a great opportunity for us with the growth of our economy and the formation of the Midlands Engine.
“We have some exciting industry sectors based here and I am confident that we will continue to bring value to our clients across all areas of our business, particularly as devolution starts to reshape our regional economies and as we start to see how Brexit plays out.”
Along with the Birmingham office, KPMG’s practices in Nottingham and Leicester employ more than 1,500 staff providing audit, tax and advisory services to a range of businesses across the East and West Midlands.
“Under Mike’s guidance, our regional business has grown and won a number of impressive new clients in recent years. We will build on this by continuing to invest in the local market place as we see demand increase for our services. We have a key role to play in the Midlands and I’m confident that we can make a difference,” he said.
Mr Steventon said: “It has been a real pleasure and a privilege to work with so many talented people within our Midlands practice and I am confident that the business will continue to flourish under Karl’s leadership.
“I will now take on an exciting new challenge leading our public sector and healthcare practice across the UK. I am particularly fascinated by the opportunities and challenges of devolution, which is starting to play out in the West Midlands.
“There are real challenges in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, and I know that KPMG can play a key role in helping unlock the opportunities that devolution can bring to our communities.”
