KPMG has tasked Karl Edge with leading its private enterprise business in the UK. Edge will meanwhile be succeeded as Birmingham Office Senior Partner by Andrew Bostock.
Privately owned businesses are seen by many to be a diving force behind the UK economy. These companies include scaleups, family businesses, PE backed firms and some of the UK’s largest privately owned companies, with domestic and international footprints across a wide range of sectors.
KPMG Private Enterprise works with clients to help them embrace technology, plan for an exit, or manage the transition of wealth or businesses to the next generation. The practice provides services such as assurance, business planning, strategy services, cyber security and data and analytics services, among others.
Taking on the leadership of the UK wing of KPMG’s private enterprise business, Karl Edge brings over 30 years of experience to the role. Having worked privately owned businesses across the full breadth of sectors in the economy, he became a KPMG Partner in 2005, and has been KPMG’s Birmingham Office Senior Partner for the last six years.
Edge said of his promotion, “I am excited to build on the momentum we have in the market, leading our outstanding teams across the UK and EMA as we provide the best expertise and advice to businesses with rapidly evolving needs. EMA is a diverse region and our clients will benefit from our collaboration across the geography as we support them in responding to their biggest issues.”
He takes over the leadership role with immediate effect. This sees him step into the shoes of Chris Hearld, who became KPMG UK’s Chief Financial Officer earlier in 2022.
Hearld, remarked, “It’s really pleasing to pass the KPMG Private Enterprise baton to Karl, who lives and breathes helping entrepreneurial business leaders to succeed and overcome their challenges along the way.”
Birmingham office
Meanwhile, Andrew Bostock succeeds Edge as KPMG’s Birmingham Office Senior Partner, after 26 years with the firm. Having spent the last decade as a Partner, most recently Bostock was head of KPMG’s Birmingham consulting team and played a role in the office’s leadership team.
As he takes charge of KPMG’s 1,300 staff at its base in One Snowhill, Bostock said, “I am thrilled to be taking over the helm of KPMG’s Birmingham office at such an important time in the continued recovery of the Midlands economy, alongside the all-important levelling up agenda. The Midlands has a great deal to be proud of just now. The Commonwealth Games is set to put us at the centre of the world stage, Birmingham is becoming an increasingly desirable destination for blue-chip businesses and HS2 will cement the region’s pivotal position in the UK economy.”
