Jo Thomson

Alongside leading the Edinburgh office, Ms Thomson has also been appointed as public sector lead for Scotland. In this role, she will bring the full breadth of KPMG UK’s expertise in tax, audit and advisory to help public bodies navigate Scotland’s evolving policy landscape and reform agenda.

Ms Thomson, who succeeds Arleen Arnott after more than six years with the firm, described the appointment as a “real privilege” and a personal milestone.

She said: “I’ve spent much of my career supporting organisations to improve the services they deliver to their customers through large scale transformation consulting.

“Taking on this role marks an important milestone in my career. From graduating at the Usher Hall to now leading an office just next door, it really feels like coming full circle.

“My mantra for this first year is to listen, learn and really understand what is unique about Scotland, while also bringing a fresh perspective and the benefit of my wider experience. On a personal note, moving back to Scotland with family connections stretching from Aberdeen to Dumfries makes this opportunity even more special.”

Ms Thomson is also a board member of Scottish Swimming and is keen to play a more active role locally in supporting its corporate vision, ‘everyone can swim’, while helping to inspire people of all ages and abilities to feel safer and more confident in the water.

The appointment follows a period of expansion for KPMG UK in Edinburgh. Stuart Thomson has also re-joined the team from Johnston Carmichael as corporate tax partner. He will support businesses navigating an increasingly complex tax world, manage compliance and unlock opportunities for growth.

With more than 25 years of experience in tax, Mr Thomson will focus in particular on Scotland’s family-owned and private equity-backed businesses, providing tailored tax solutions designed to safeguard stakeholder wealth and drive sustainable, long-term growth across generations.

He said: “This is an exciting time to be re-joining KPMG in Edinburgh, with Jo taking on her new role and the office going from strength to strength.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside her and the wider team in Glasgow and Aberdeen to support Scotland’s most ambitious businesses, helping them tackle complex tax challenges while unlocking opportunities for long-term success.”

Vishal Chopra, Scotland senior partner at KPMG UK, added: “I’m pleased to welcome Jo and Stuart into their new roles.

“They bring strong experience that will enhance our presence in Edinburgh. Their contribution will support our clients, strengthen relationships and help Scotland’s organisations to achieve their ambitions.”