KPMG Canada has appointed Ali Jaffery to the newly created role of chief economist, effective 1 April 2026.
Jaffery will be based in Ottawa as a partner and will lead the firm’s economic advisory services practice.
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He will be responsible for designing and running economic research programmes centred on national themes such as trade, productivity and competitiveness.
KPMG Canada senior partner and CEO Benjie Thomas said: “Canada is at a pivotal moment as it works to build a more resilient economy.
“Appointing Ali Jaffery as Chief Economist strengthens KPMG’s ability to help Canadian organizations understand how the economy is shifting, what it means for them, and how to proactively respond with confidence in an increasingly complex environment.”
Jaffery moves into the post with over 15 years of experience across government, central banking and the private sector.
He most recently worked at CIBC as executive director and senior economist.
In that role, he tracked key macroeconomic trends in the US and Canada and provided guidance to a broad base of financial market and corporate clients.
Earlier in his career, Jaffery held several positions at the Bank of Canada, including Principal Economist in the international department.
His background also includes roles at the Department of Finance and the Treasury Board Secretariat, along with an international stint at Qatar National Bank.
Jaffery said: “Having worked across government, central banking and capital markets, I’ve seen how quickly economic conditions and policy responses can change – and how important clear, practical insight is in moments of uncertainty.
“KPMG Canada has an established track record as a trusted advisor to Canadian organisations, and I’m looking forward to working with teams across the country to help clients cut through noise, manage geopolitical and economic disruption, and make decisions that strengthen their productivity, resilience and competitiveness.”
Earlier this month, KPMG Canada appointed Andrew Forde as its first AI Research head.
