KPMG welcomes tax leaders Joe Pacelli and Antonio Tapia
KPMG has bolstered its tax leadership team in the Lower Gulf with two well-known figures in the landscape: Joe Pacelli and Antonio Tapia. Both have been recruited externally.
Appointed Head of Tax, Joe Pacelli brings over two decades of experience in tax advisory services to the firm. Notably, he returns to KPMG having started his career at the global group in its London office.
Antonio Tapia has meanwhile been appointed Head of Transfer Pricing. He has over fifteen years of transfer pricing and cross border tax experience across various industries.
“We are pleased to welcome Joe and Antonio to the firm, they bring tremendous experience to our team. The move is part of our commitment to meet increased demand in the region for tax readiness following the announcement of the new UAE corporate tax law,” said Emilio Pera, CEO at KPMG Lower Gulf.
Both new senior hires have been brought in from rivals. Pacelli joins KPMG from EY, and previously served Deloitte. During his first tenure at KPMG, he also worked from the firm’s offices in Switzerland and Russia.
Pera: “Joe provides strategic guidance to multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals. His deep understanding of tax regulations and his ability to provide strategic tax planning will be instrumental in helping our clients navigate the evolving tax landscape.”
In his new role, Pacelli will lead the Tax practice, flanked by the existing leadership team comprising Wassim Chahine (Corporate Tax for UAE), Keith Donegan (Indirect Tax for UAE), and Aabha Lekhak (Corporate andIndirect Tax for Oman).
Tapia joins from PwC, where he spent around a decade across its Dubai and Sydney offices. Before that, he worked for Deloitte and local player Garrigues in Spain.
Pera: “Antonio’s extensive experience will help deliver tangible value to our clients seeking optimized transfer pricing structures. His comprehensive knowledge and analytical skills have enabled him to provide innovative transfer pricing strategies to clients across various industries.”
KPMG’s organisation in the Lower Gulf covers its businesses in the UAE and Oman. The team comprises around 60+ partners and 1,800 staff.