KPMG strengthens Scottish team with host of senior promotions

KPMGKPMG is targeting growth in its audit, forensic, technology risk and tax teams in Scotland with promotions at partner and director levels.

David Derbyshire, previously audit director, has been promoted to partner.

Based in Aberdeen, he will be responsible for providing audit and assurance services to upstream operators and oilfield service businesses both in the city and internationally.

His experience ranges from advising private equity-backed companies to globally-listed groups. Mr Derbyshire joined KPMG in 1997 and was originally based in the firm’s London office prior to permanently relocating to Aberdeen in 2010.



David Derbyshire
David Derbyshire

KPMG’s audit team in Aberdeen has also been strengthened in the promotions of Paula Holland and Slim Gueddana to director.

Ms Holland recently joined the firm’s Aberdeen team, having spent 14 years at KPMG in the north of England working with privately-owned and private-equity-backed businesses across a wide range of industries.

Meanwhile Mr Gueddana, who has been with KPMG since 2002, had until recently been based in London working on the external and internal audits of FTSE100 and global groups in the oil & gas, mining and industrial sectors.

In Glasgow, Gordon Herbertson has also been promoted to director having joined KPMG as a graduate in 1994 and since gained experience of the Scottish audit market and has spent 21 years working with large and listed companies.

Kal Sangha, a tax specialist based in Glasgow, has been promoted to director. He leads a multi-disciplinary team specialising in providing innovative and effective asset finance and tax solutions around business capital expenditure programmes, with a particular focus on improving cash flow and bridging funding gaps for capital projects.

Aligned to the firm’s continued support of its growing cyber security business, Paul O’Leary, who leads the Technology Risk Consulting practice across Scotland and Newcastle, has been promoted to director. He joined KPMG in 2009 and works across all industry sectors helping clients to manage the risks presented by technology and ensure that the investment in technology generates better business value.

Graham Cochran, a forensic specialist who has worked for KPMG within the UK and overseas, has also been promoted to director.

Working alongside Ken Milliken, head of forensic in Scotland, Mr Cochran acts as engagement leader on forensic engagements including fraud and misconduct investigations, disputes and valuations and fraud risk management assignments.

Craig Anderson, senior partner for KPMG in Scotland, said: “This latest round of promotions highlights the significant investment being made across all areas of KPMG’s business in Scotland to support our ambitious growth plans.

“At partner level David Derbyshire will play a central role in developing our existing presence in the energy sector both in Aberdeen and internationally. Meanwhile all six of our new directors have considerable experience working across a range of industry sectors with a deep understanding of the key issues affecting our clients.

“With the economy showing signs of more sustained growth and this significant further investment, we are confident we have the right people in place to help continue driving our business forward.”

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