KPMG Australia CEO, Audit Head Quit Over Whistleblower Probe

By EC Assets · Published 29 May 2026

KPMG Australia's Chief Executive Officer and its head of audit have resigned. The resignations follow an internal investigation into the handling of a whistleblower's complaints. The accounting firm stated that the investigation fell short of expectations. Andrew Yates, who served as CEO since 2021, resigned. He joined the firm in 1990. Julian McPherson, managing partner of audit and assurance, also resigned. The departures stem from shortcomings in addressing a whistleblower's allegations about sharing client data. The whistleblower, identified as a former audit director, alleged the firm improperly accessed documents, relied on inside information, and capitalized on it. KPMG Australia confirmed the whistleblower made three complaints. These complaints concerned client documents being shared inappropriately. Mike Baird, former NSW premier, had resigned as an independent director for KPMG. His resignation was partly due to concerns regarding the handling of Lendlease whistleblower allegations. This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice.