KPMG South Africa has marked the conclusion of Ignatius Sehoole’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer, celebrating his leadership as a period defined by integrity, resilience, and organisational renewal.
In a farewell event themed ‘From Leadership to Legacy’ held on Thursday in Johannesburg, KPMG South Africa and KPMG One Africa hosted senior business leaders, regulators, academia, clients, competitors, media representatives, and the firm’s African leadership. The gathering also signalled a seamless transition to incoming CEO Joelene Pierce, reinforcing confidence in the firm’s direction.
Sehoole was appointed CEO in 2019 during a critical period for KPMG South Africa, tasked with restoring credibility and embedding core values across the firm. According to the firm’s statement, he led “comprehensive governance reforms, strengthened audit quality, re-engaged regulators and stakeholders, and embedded a culture of accountability and transparency.”
As chairperson of KPMG One Africa, Sehoole championed regional integration and elevated Africa’s role on global platforms, including the B20, where KPMG served as a knowledge partner. His tenure concludes in March 2026, leaving the firm stabilised and poised for values-driven growth.
Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, instrumental in Sehoole’s appointment, described his leadership as grounded in moral courage. “Ignatius was appointed at a moment when leadership required moral courage above all else. He brought integrity, humility, and discipline to the role, qualities that cannot be manufactured in times of crisis,” Nkuhlu said.
Incoming CEO Pierce paid tribute to Sehoole’s legacy, saying, “Ignatius leaves KPMG South Africa stronger, steadier, and deeply grounded in its values. I am honoured to build on the foundation he has laid and to continue advancing a culture of integrity, excellence, and trust.”
Beyond corporate leadership, Sehoole’s family highlighted the personal grounding that sustained him. His wife noted, “For all the responsibility he carried, Ignatius has always found peace in the land – in farming, in working with his hands, and in watching things grow over time. It is there that he reflects, resets, and reminds himself that growth, whether in business or in life, takes patience, care, and humility.”
As Sehoole steps down, observers say he leaves behind more than a stabilised institution, he leaves a legacy of ethical leadership, operational renewal, and strengthened governance at KPMG South Africa, setting a benchmark for the firm’s next chapter.
