KPMG Australia Chair Martin Sheppard Resigns Over Confidential Data Misuse Scandal

KPMG Australia’s chairman, Martin Sheppard, announced his resignation after a whistleblower alleged that the firm misused confidential client information to win audit work. The scandal centred on the firm’s handling of board papers from real‑estate group Lendlease and the sharing of sensitive Optus data with a team bidding for Telstra’s audit, prompting a parliamentary committee hearing.

The fallout also includes the departure of senior audit partners Paul Rogers and Eileen Hoggett, following earlier exits of CEO Andrew Yates and audit chief Julian McPherson. KPMG has launched a fourth internal investigation, agreed to replace its chair with an independent appointee, and is under regulatory scrutiny. The Australian government has suspended the firm from new public‑sector contracts for several months, and Lendlease is preparing to drop KPMG as its auditor.