KPMG Australia Client Data Leak Scandal: Eileen Hoggett Steps Down as KPMA Australia Chief Operating Officer (COO) But Will Remain as Audit Partner, KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates & Head of Audit Julian McPherson Resigned after Complaints of Sharing Confidential Client Data to Win Contracts by Whistleblower, Clients Data Misused Involved Lendlease, Telstra & Optus, KPMG Australia Largest Clients Include ANZ, Westpac & Macquarie, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Starts Investigation, Stan Stavros Appointed as Interim KPMG Australia CEO
4th June 2026 | Hong Kong
KPMG Australia Client Data Leak Scandal – Eileen Hoggett has stepped down as KPMG Australia Chief Operating Officer (COO) but will remain as Audit Partner. In 2026 May, KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates & Head of Audit Julian McPherson have resigned in data leak scandal after complaints of sharing confidential client data to win contracts by a whistleblower. KPMG clients data misused involved Lendlease, Telstra & Optus. KPMG Australia largest clients include ANZ, Westpac & Macquarie. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) started preliminary investigation. Stan Stavros was appointed as interim KPMG Australia CEO. In 2025 September – PwC Australia Government Tax Leak Scandal – PwC Australia ex-CEO Tom Seymour has been issued with a 4-year ban as a tax agent by the Australia Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) for failure to act with integrity & manage conflicts of interest. In 2023 May, PwC Australia CEO Tom Seymour resigned for involvement in Australia government tax policy information leak. Ex-PwC advisor Peter-John Collins, who was de-registered in 2022 as tax practitioner by Australia Tax Practitioners Board, had shared confidential tax information with PwC partners. PwC advised governments on creating tax laws & implement tax policies, and at the same time creating new tax arrangements for clients to reduce or avoid tax. KPMG (29/5/26): “KPMG Australia confirms its treatment of a whistleblower and investigation into their allegations fell short of the firm’s expectations, those of the whistleblower and the broader community. The initial internal investigation, that did not substantiate the allegations raised by the whistleblower, was in hindsight not conducted with the necessary rigour required. Understandably this prompted further communications and allegations from the whistleblower, resulting in the appointment of an external legal firm, to review the internal investigation. The external legal review supported the internal investigation. This outcome further escalated the whistleblower’s concerns with the process. The whistleblower again raised the matter with certain independent members of the KPMG Australia Board and others. At this point, a Board Sub-Committee (led by the Deputy Chair and including three independent directors), appointed Allens to conduct a further external legal investigation, which remains ongoing. Now, with new evidence and an expanded scope, Allens are continuing to challenge the conclusions reached in prior investigations.” See below for more info:
“ KPMG Australia Client Data Leak Scandal: Eileen Hoggett Steps Down as KPMA Australia Chief Operating Officer (COO) But Will Remain as Audit Partner, KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates & Head of Audit Julian McPherson Resigned after Complaints of Sharing Confidential Client Data to Win Contracts by Whistleblower, Clients Data Misused Involved Lendlease, Telstra & Optus, KPMG Australia Largest Clients Include ANZ, Westpac & Macquarie, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Starts Investigation, Stan Stavros Appointed as Interim KPMG Australia CEO “
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KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates & Head of Audit Julian McPherson Resigned in Data Leak Scandal after Complaints of Sharing Confidential Client Data to Win Contracts by Whistleblower, Clients Data Misused Include Telstra & Optus, KPMG Australia Largest Clients Include ANZ, Westpac & Macquarie, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Starts Investigation, Stan Stavros Appointed as Interim KPMG Australia CEO
30th May 2026 – KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates & Head of Audit Julian McPherson have resigned in data leak scandal after complaints of sharing confidential client data to win contracts by a whistleblower. KPMG clients data misused include Telstra & Optus. KPMG Australia largest clients include ANZ, Westpac & Macquarie. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has started preliminary investigation. Stan Stavros is appointed as interim KPMG Australia CEO. In 2025 September – PwC Australia Government Tax Leak Scandal – PwC Australia ex-CEO Tom Seymour has been issued with a 4-year ban as a tax agent by the Australia Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) for failure to act with integrity & manage conflicts of interest. In 2023 May, PwC Australia CEO Tom Seymour resigned for involvement in Australia government tax policy information leak. Ex-PwC advisor Peter-John Collins, who was de-registered in 2022 as tax practitioner by Australia Tax Practitioners Board, had shared confidential tax information with PwC partners. PwC advised governments on creating tax laws & implement tax policies, and at the same time creating new tax arrangements for clients to reduce or avoid tax. KPMG (29/5/26): “KPMG Australia confirms its treatment of a whistleblower and investigation into their allegations fell short of the firm’s expectations, those of the whistleblower and the broader community. The initial internal investigation, that did not substantiate the allegations raised by the whistleblower, was in hindsight not conducted with the necessary rigour required. Understandably this prompted further communications and allegations from the whistleblower, resulting in the appointment of an external legal firm, to review the internal investigation. The external legal review supported the internal investigation. This outcome further escalated the whistleblower’s concerns with the process. The whistleblower again raised the matter with certain independent members of the KPMG Australia Board and others. At this point, a Board Sub-Committee (led by the Deputy Chair and including three independent directors), appointed Allens to conduct a further external legal investigation, which remains ongoing. Now, with new evidence and an expanded scope, Allens are continuing to challenge the conclusions reached in prior investigations.” See below for more info:
KPMG Australia investigation into whistleblower allegations (29/5/26) –
KPMG Australia confirms its treatment of a whistleblower and investigation into their allegations fell short of the firm’s expectations, those of the whistleblower and the broader community.
- The initial internal investigation, that did not substantiate the allegations raised by the whistleblower, was in hindsight not conducted with the necessary rigour required. Understandably this prompted further communications and allegations from the whistleblower, resulting in the appointment of an external legal firm, to review the internal investigation.
- The external legal review supported the internal investigation. This outcome further escalated the whistleblower’s concerns with the process. The whistleblower again raised the matter with certain independent members of the KPMG Australia Board and others.
- At this point, a Board Sub-Committee (led by the Deputy Chair and including three independent directors), appointed Allens to conduct a further external legal investigation, which remains ongoing. Now, with new evidence and an expanded scope, Allens are continuing to challenge the conclusions reached in prior investigations.
The Board has identified areas where KPMG has fallen short of the standards it expects in the handling of such important matters. The Board has confirmed shortcomings in the:
- management of the whistleblower and their concerns;
- the rigour of the investigations; and
- action by leadership regarding the allegations raised.
As a consequence:
- KPMG Chairman Martin Sheppard has accepted the resignation of Andrew Yates, CEO of KPMG Australia, effective immediately – as the executive with ultimate responsibility for management of the whistleblower process and the management-led investigations.
- Mr Sheppard has also accepted the resignation of Julian McPherson, National Managing Partner Audit and Assurance, who will stand down from this role effective immediately and will resign from the firm after an orderly transition of his client responsibilities.
- The Board has appointed Stan Stavros as interim CEO of KPMG Australia while continuing its process to appoint a permanent successor to Mr Yates.
- An Interim National Managing Partner of Audit and Assurance will be announced shortly.
- Appropriate disciplinary action will continue to be imposed if the investigations identify further matters.
Andrew Yates said: “I have been committed to a speak-up culture in our firm, it is clear that in this case we have let ourselves down and I take accountability.”
Julian McPherson said: “Matters have arisen for which I am responsible, and I take accountability.”
Whistleblower Allegations
- KPMG has previously reported to professional bodies, regulators and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (the Committee) that the firm had identified a matter relating to client documents being inappropriately shared internally. Three partners have previously been sanctioned regarding this matter, and they have self-reported to the appropriate professional bodies. We are continuing to investigate this matter. We also reported a second matter concerning an inappropriate remark in a team setting regarding the sharing of client information. Disciplinary action has also been taken. We are continuing to investigate this matter.
- The ongoing investigation recently revealed a separate incident where internal documents containing client information have also been inappropriately shared internally. Our investigation into this matter is ongoing.
- These three conduct matters were raised by the whistleblower. While prior investigations concluded these allegations were unsubstantiated, KPMG now recognises these processes fell short.
- KPMG has reported this new finding to impacted clients, regulators, professional bodies and to the Committee. Should new findings emerge, this information will be shared with clients, the Committee, regulators and professional bodies.
KPMG Chairman Martin Sheppard said: “We apologise unreservedly to the whistleblower. We commit to learning from this process to ensure we create an environment where it is safe and easy to surface concerns that will be acted upon. KPMG apologises to the clients whose information was not handled with the care and respect they expect from us. We also apologise to our people – as these matters do not reflect on the contribution they make to KPMG and our clients.
“We recognise the gravity of today’s announcement. That is why, in addition to the ongoing external Allens investigation which will thoroughly investigate the allegations, we have also engaged Principia Advisory, a leading global specialist in ethical culture, to undertake an external review of our underlying speak up culture, including the policies and processes that support this.”
“KPMG is committed to transparency and will publish the findings of the Principia review. We will move swiftly to act upon their recommendations. We are reinforcing and strengthening the controls that protect client confidentiality, and we will set out for our clients the specific steps we are taking to keep their information protected. For each of our audit clients we will confirm that any conduct matters do not impact the quality of their audits.
“We acknowledge we have work to do to rebuild trust. That’s why we are not asking anyone to take our word for it, and we are inviting scrutiny and challenge on our remedial actions.”
KPMG will continue to engage with the Committee, and the regulators and professional bodies examining these matters.
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