Senior partner of professional advisory firm KPMG in Wales, Simon Jones, has stood down after 15-years in the role.
Mr Jones has been succeeded as senior partner at the firm’s Cardiff office by David Williams, but will continue to lead the firm’s tax practice in Wales as a partner - a position he has held for 25-years.
Mr Williams has worked for KPMG for 22- years across audit, advisory and most recently consulting. For the last 12 years he has held senior leadership positions, both globally and in the UK, across the transport sector and the firm’s infrastructure, government and healthcare practice.
During his time as senior partner, Mr Jones oversaw the growth of the office and its client portfolio, while establishing the Cardiff office as a tax centre of excellence within the firm.
He also secured the office’s long-term future following a successful renegotiation of KPMG’s lease at the 3 Assembly Square office building in Cardiff Bay.
The, Cardiff office, which employs 100, has also promoted Jeremy Thomas as partner within KPMG’s private enterprise audit team.
Mr Jones said “It has been an absolute privilege to lead our Cardiff office for KPMG over the past 15 years and drive our support for organisations across Wales. Together, we’ve built a great team in the city and worked with many of the most prestigious and fastest growing organisations in Wales.”
Mr Williams, said: “Simon has been a champion of Welsh business and has been absolutely critical to developing our offering in Cardiff. I’m thrilled to be taking on this role, but also in having Simon remain as part of the team here. Having been a partner for some 25 years he has enormous experience and an incredible network and, alongside the promotion of Jeremy Thomas, brings even more senior counsel to our clients.”
On the future direction of the firm in Wales, he added: “There is real potential within the Welsh economy. We all know that it is a great place to live and work and many others are quickly appreciating that too. This is having a phenomenal impact on the burgeoning tech scene in the city and will support Welsh SMEs as they look to grow. We’re also seeing significant interest from international firms to invest in the country and use Wales as a platform for growth in the UK.
“My role is all about further developing our presence in Wales so we can support those ambitions, but also to help our clients through the challenges they are facing – whether that’s emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, responding to inflation or reducing emissions.
"Fundamental to that is attracting the best professional talent in the market, but also fostering our own and strengthening our links with schools, colleges and universities to take on the professionals of the future. We also have an incredible wealth of experience and expertise across our UK office network, so my focus will also be on linking local businesses and public sector organisations with best-in-class professionals.”
