KPMG Middle East appoints Islam Al Bayaa as incoming Chief Executive Officer

KPMG Middle East has announced the appointment of Islam Ahmad Al Bayaa as the new Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment is effective 1 October 2026, and follows an independent selection process led by the firm’s governance bodies, supported by external advisors, and concluded through a partner vote.

Ahmad Al Bayaa currently serves as Head of Advisory for KPMG Middle East. In the role, he leads more than 2,400 professionals and 100 partners across the region.

Al Bayaa brings over 30 years of leadership experience spanning advisory, transactions, and enterprise transformation, and has been a member of KPMG Middle East’s Executive Committee for the past 13 years. Throughout his career, he has built deep relationships with governments, sovereign entities, and major institutional clients across the Middle East, while leading cross-border growth, market integration, and large-scale transformation initiatives across the region.

Commenting on his appointment, Al Bayaa said: “KPMG Middle East has built a strong foundation for growth, supported by a clear strategy, a diverse client base, and exceptional talent across the region. I look forward to working closely with our partners, colleagues, and clients to continue strengthening our culture, our position and delivering long-term value.”

Al Bayaa succeeds Abdullah Al Fozan, who will complete his current term as CEO on 30 September 2026 and will continue to lead the firm through the transition.

“This appointment reflects the strength of our leadership pipeline and the confidence our partners have in the firm’s direction,” said Al Fozan. “Islam has been instrumental in driving the growth of our Advisory business and enhancing our presence across key markets in the region. I am confident he will continue to build on this momentum while upholding our firm’s commitment to quality, people, and clients.”

KPMG Middle East was formed in 2024 through the merger between the group’s Lower Gulf and Saudi Arabia member firms. The entity is by far KPMG’s largest business in the Middle East, but does not include all member firms in the region.

Globally, KPMG has more than 276,000 people working across offices in 138 countries.