KPMG Australia chair Michael Ebeid apologises after critical email about senator

Michael Ebeid was appointed as KPMG Australia's first independent chair on 2 July 2026, part of a plan to address a series of integrity and whistle‑blower concerns at the firm. A parliamentary joint committee released an email he sent on 25 March to deputy chair Carmel Mortell, in which he disparaged Labor senator Deborah O’Neill—who had aired whistle‑blower allegations that KPMG partners had improperly accessed confidential client information.

Following the release, Ebeid issued an apology, stating he was unaware of the full facts at the time of the email and would not have written it now. Senators, including Greens member Barbara Pocock, questioned his suitability to lead the firm's governance reforms. As independent chair, Ebeid will oversee the next steps of KPMG's action plan, including board refreshment and the appointment of a new chief executive after the resignation of Andrew Yates.