Queensland Police find David Ibels dead and another body in Springbrook National Park
Queensland Police have discovered the body of KPMG partner David Ibels at a Gold Coast national park near his black Porsche, along with the body of another missing person.
The body of a partner at major accounting firm KPMG who was last seen on Saturday has been found dead in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Queensland Police confirmed that the body of David Ibels was found on Monday afternoon near where his black Porsche Cayenne was parked at Purling Brook Falls in the Springbrook National Park just to the west of the Gold Coast.
It came after a search effort led by Queensland Police and feature around 20 of his colleagues from KPMG commenced after he last made contact with a family member in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A statement shared via Queensland Police on Sunday following the disappearance from his family said they were concerned for his welfare as “his behaviour is out of character”.
Queensland Police said on Tuesday that another body believed to be 75-year-old man William Marshall was located not far away from that of Ibels. Marshall was reported missing from Thornlands on July 31.
Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious and are not connected.
“An extensive search was conducted of the Springbrook National Park after the 75-year-old man’s vehicle was found in the area on August 3, but the man was not located,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
KPMG chief executive Andrew Yates said that the death of Ibels is “hard to accept” and would be felt across the broader community with the firm losing a “great partner and friend.
“David was an incredible person, a great partner, and so focused on our people. He was an extraordinary individual – making this news so hard to accept,” Mr Yates said in a statement.
“All our thoughts are with David’s family. His loss will be felt by many, not only within our firm but more broadly with our clients and the Queensland community. It’s an incredibly sad day, losing a great partner, and friend.”
Ibels, a 43-year-old from New Farm in Brisbane, worked at KPMG for 11 years with nearly eight of those spent as a partner. In his time at KPMG, he focused on the resources sector and was also a director for a number of year.
Before KPMG he studied at The University of Technology Sydney and spent several years employed by Barclays and Capgemini Consulting in London.
KPMG is offering staff across the company free support and resources to staff and family, including its KPMG Care Program and Mental Health Peer Supporters. Sonder consultants are currently on site in all of KPMG’s offices to provide extra support if needed.
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