New PwC CEO Kevin Burrowes arrives as consulting sector faces more parliament hearings

PwC Australia’s incoming boss Kevin Burrowes arrives in Australia on Monday, but he will escape two days of bruising parliamentary hearings into the consulting sector.

PwC Australia’s incoming chief executive Kevin Burrowes is set to land in Australia on Monday as he confronts a firm in crisis, but will escape two days of bruising parliamentary hearings into the consulting sector.

Mr Burrowes, who will replace interim PwC chief executive ­Kristin Stubbins, was confirmed as the new boss of the local operation on June 25 after the global leadership of the audit and consulting giant intervened.

This came after weeks of worsening news for PwC, with the firm’s public sector clients placing the consulting giant in the freezer after its claims a misuse of government information scandal were limited to a smattering of staff were shown to be false.

PwC’s former chief executive Tom Seymour resigned from the top job after parliament revealed 144 pages of emails seized by the Tax Practitioners Board, after it launched an investigation into PwC’s former head of international tax Peter Collins.

Incoming PwC Australia CEO Kevin Burrowes.

Mr Burrowes, who has previously been based in Singapore as PwC Network’s global clients and industries leader, has scrambled to arrange immigration approval to enter Australia since the firm announced he was taking on the top job. However, PwC has since confirmed he will arrive in Australia on Monday.

Mr Burrowes has already shaken up PwC’s leadership with the removal of long-time general counsel Meredith Beattie and Tony O’Malley, who was recently appointed to head up PwC Australia’s risk and ethics division. Both have announced their ­intention to retire from the firm. Mr Burrowes will arrive as a parliamentary inquiry reconvenes to scrutinise the consulting sector, but PwC will not feature in this week’s hearings due to concerns it may prejudice two ongoing investigations into the firm by the TPB and the Australian Federal Police.

In Monday’s hearings, Deloitte Australia will be called to give evidence, with its chief executive Adam Powick to be flanked by chairman Tom Imbesi, chief risk officer Sneza Pelusi, and Australian federal government lead client service partner Matthew O’Donnell.

In its response to questions on notice, Deloitte said it had disciplined a staff member in the last year for misuse of government information after a staff member “incorrectly handled and shared a document outside of agreed protocols with another member of the team for work purposes”.

“The information did not leave the project team,” a Deloitte spokeswoman said.

“The incident was detected by Deloitte and reported to the client within 48 hours. The matter was immediately investigated and an action plan, including disciplinary action, was agreed with the client to their satisfaction.”

PwC’s former director Tracey Murray, who established its transfer pricing practice at its Brisbane office, will appear on Monday. She is currently Delve innovation and advisory director.

EY Oceania will appear on Tuesday, with attendees to be confirmed. Accenture will attend on Tuesday afternoon, with its Australia and New Zealand strategy and consulting lead Louise May, health and public service group lead John Vidas and market unit lead Peter Burns appearing. Several sessions are yet to be finalised.

Originally published as New PwC CEO Kevin Burrowes arrives as consulting sector faces more parliament hearings