KPMG UK head John Griffith-Jones has been appointed chairman of
KPMG’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMA) region. EMA
comprises more than 3,000 partners and 55,000 staff in 105
countries.

Griffith-Jones takes over from Ben van der Veer, who is also
retiring as the senior partner of KPMG’s member firm in the
Netherlands. The new EMA chair will continue in his role as joint
chairman of KPMG Europe as well as maintain his focus on the UK
marketplace.

Griffith-Jones joined KPMG in 1975 and has held several senior
positions in the audit and corporate finance practices.

He was chief executive of KPMG UK for four years and was
appointed chairman and senior partner of the firm in 2006.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of ensuring that KPMG
continues to expand in a region that includes some of the world’s
fastest-growing economies,” he said.

KPMG has also appointed Alan Buckle as head of its global
advisory practice, which accounts for more than 30,000 professional
partners and staff in the global network.

Buckle was previously chief executive of KPMG’s advisory
practice in Europe and led the firm’s consulting arm, prior to its
separation and sale.

His clients have included global corporations and government
agencies.