KPMG appoints seven new partners in the Middle East

KPMG has appointed seven new partners across its Advisory and Tax practices in the Middle East. 

Abdullah Al Fozan, CEO of KPMG in the Middle East, said that the latest cohort of new partners, which comes shortly after another intake of nine partners, forms part of the firm’s broader growth strategy in the region, with a particular focus on expanding its presence and capabilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

“KPMG’s commitment to the Middle East has never been stronger. It’s truly remarkable to see our team grow. We’re not just expanding; we’re bringing in world-class talent with deep sector expertise. These new hires are central to our mission to provide clients with the insights they need to thrive in these transformative times,” Al Fozan noted.

Nadeem Gulzar joins as a partner in the Advisory division, based in Riyadh. With over 25 years of global experience in financial services and operations transformation, Gulzar specializes in cloud, AI, and digital operating models. He joins from Deloitte, where he led the Insurance practice across the Middle East.

Suruj Dutta has joined as a partner in Abu Dhabi. A member of the Advisory division, he brings over two decades of experience in payments and digital financial services across the UK, Hong Kong, the UAE, and the wider MENA region. Dutta has advised banks, fintechs, and regulators on digital growth, eKYC regulations, and fintech accelerators.

Craig Wright has joined as the Solution Group Leader for Enterprise Risk Services based in Riyadh. With more than 25 years of experience, Wright previously led Enterprise Risk Services for Sectors Consulting at KPMG in the UK. His expertise spans governance, internal controls, compliance, and forensic accounting across multiple industries.

Estella Dzhantukhanova joins as Tax partner in Dubai, bringing over 23 years of experience in international tax, M&A, and cross-border structuring. Previously at Deloitte for two decades, she is known for developing strategic tools such as the M&A Tax Navigator and for advising clients on high-value transactions and global tax strategies.

Driaan Rupping has been appointed as Corporate Tax Partner in Dubai. He has more than 15 years of experience advising multinational clients across Africa and the Middle East. Rupping recently led UAE Corporate Tax and Pillar 2 implementation initiatives at PwC, where he spent more than a dozen years in the Middle East and Africa.

Marcus Threadgold has relocated from the UK to Abu Dhabi through KPMG’s global mobility program and joins as partner in the Advisory business. He brings over 25 years of industry and consulting experience, having held senior roles at Deutsche Bank, NatWest, and Barclays. Threadgold will support capital markets transformation and regulatory advisory efforts across the region.

Shane Groeger joins the Advisory division, based out of Riyadh. Part of the Digital Lighthouse leadership team, Groeger brings over 25 years of experience in data architecture, AI, and cloud technologies, with a career spanning Ireland, the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, and Monaco.

The Deputy CEO of KPMG in the Middle East, Emilio Pera, stated: “These appointments are a clear reflection of our long-term commitment to delivering trusted expertise in markets undergoing fast-paced change. Strengthening our partnership across these services groups ensures that we are equipped to support clients with forward-looking solutions – whether they are scaling up, transforming digitally, or preparing for regulatory shifts across the region.”