Why did KPMG Australia Chief Operating Officer Eileen Hogget resign?

Eileen Hogget stepped down from her executive role following a widening independent re-investigation into mishandled whistleblower allegations at the firm.

Is Eileen Hogget leaving KPMG Australia entirely after stepping down as COO?

No, Hogget is not exiting the firm completely. While she has vacated the Chief Operating Officer post effective immediately, she will remain at KPMG Australia in her capacity as a partner within the audit and assurance division.

Who else has resigned from KPMG Australia amid this whistleblower scandal?

Hogget’s exit follows the high-profile resignations of Chief Executive Andrew Yates and National Managing Partner for Audit and Assurance Julian McPherson less than a week prior. Both executives stepped down after the firm admitted its initial internal probe into the data misuse allegations was inadequate.

Who is replacing Eileen Hogget as the Chief Operating Officer of KPMG Australia?

KPMG Australia’s Chief Financial Officer, John Sams, will take on the COO responsibilities on an interim basis. This structural consolidation is part of a broader emergency leadership shuffle designed to stabilize the professional services firm during the ongoing crisis.

What are the specific whistleblower allegations facing KPMG Australia?

The allegations state that KPMG Australia staff inappropriately shared internal documents containing confidential client information to gain an unfair advantage and win corporate advisory work.

How is KPMG Australia handling the new investigation into the data misuse claims?

KPMG Australia has retained the independent corporate law firm Allens to conduct a rigorous, external re-investigation into the whistleblower allegations. Interim CEO Stan Stavros has publicly acknowledged that the firm's previous management should have handled the initial whistleblower process differently.

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KPMG Australia COO quits amid whistleblower probe

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished Jun. 3 2026Last Updated Jun. 3 2026

KPMG Australia's COO, Eileen Hogget, has reportedly stepped down from her executive post effective immediately amid a widening external reinvestigation into mishandled whistleblower allegations.

Hogget, who will remain with the Big Four firm as an audit and assurance partner, is the latest casualty in a leadership shake-up that has gripped the consultancy.

Her departure comes less than a week after CEO Andrew Yates and National Managing Partner for Audit and Assurance Julian McPherson resigned, following admissions that a previous internal probe into data misuse fell short of public and regulatory expectations.

Interim CEO Stan Stavros confirmed that CFO John Sams will assume the COO responsibilities in the interim.

Stavros also announced structural changes to steady the firm, appointing Gayle Dickerson to lead deal advisory and infrastructure, while Scott Guse steps into McPherson’s former national audit role.

The ongoing crisis stems from allegations that KPMG personnel inappropriately shared confidential documents containing client information internally to win lucrative corporate contracts.

While an earlier review dismissed the complaints, the firm has since retained the law firm Allens to conduct a rigorous, independent reinvestigation.

Addressing partners, Stavros acknowledged that leadership should have handled the whistleblower process differently, bracing the firm for a period of heightened public, regulatory, and parliamentary scrutiny as they work to rebuild fractured market trust.