8 Senior Tax Appointments at KPMG UK

KPMG’s real estate and infrastructure tax team in the UK has received a significant boost with the appointments of a new partner and two new directors, all formerly with the real estate tax team at Ernst and Young, and an internal promotion to director. Richard White joins as a tax partner, together with Nicola Westbrooke and Simon Burbridge, who have both joined as directors. Caroline Kemp, who joined KPMG from PwC in 2001, has been promoted to director.

Richard White headed the tax team within Ernst and Young’s real estate group, a role in which he managed the team, led its sales initiatives and had significant client responsibilities. Richard White joined Ernst and Young in 1987 after beginning his career with the Inland Revenue and National Westminster Bank.

Nicola Westbrooke has over a decade’s experience of advising on the tax implications of real estate transactions. She spent time on secondment to HM Revenue and Customs where she was a key part of the team that delivered the UK Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) legislation, due to take effect on 1 January 2007. Nicola is a member of the British Property Federation’s all industry REIT technical working group and is participating in its separate working group looking at the impact of REITs in the residential sector.

Simon Burbridge advises on all aspects of property taxation for property investors, occupiers and managers. He specialises in UK and pan-European fund structures and advising on property related corporate transactions in the UK and Europe.

Caroline Kemp joined KPMG in May 2001 from PwC, and became a member of the real estate tax team in October 2002. With over ten years experience, Caroline has particular understanding of the issues around advising US investment funds and the restructuring and establishment of European property funds.

Charles Beer, senior real estate tax partner at KPMG, said: “We are delighted to announce these appointments to our team. These new arrivals plus Caroline’s promotion give us what is probably the leading team in the market in one of the most rapidly expanding areas of tax and complement other new appointments in our fast growing real estate corporate finance team.”

There is also a new director level appointment at KPMG’s Leeds office. Stuart McDougall, former Global Head of Transfer Pricing at Procter & Gamble joins KPMG’s corporate tax practice in Leeds as a Director.

Businesses across Yorkshire and beyond will be able to tap into Stuart’s 15 years of industry experience and benefit from his track record of handling transfer pricing issues from within a large multi-national group.

At Procter & Gamble Stuart was responsible for transfer pricing development, implementation and audit management across its worldwide group of companies which saw him travel extensively throughout Asia, EMEA and the USA. He has successfully negotiated advance pricing agreements between many countries and maximised the tax efficiency of Procter & Gamble’s supply chain and distribution structure.

Mike Linter, KPMG’s Leeds based head of tax in the North, is excited about this senior appointment: “The recruitment of Stuart is an important development for KPMG in Leeds and he will be a pivotal figure in our international group. I am sure that Stuart will prove to be a real differentiator for KPMG in the marketplace, bringing to us a combination of technical and commercial skills. I am delighted our clients will be able to call upon Stuart’s advice at a time when transfer pricing and indeed tax generally is becoming more business issues driven.”

Stuart McDougall said: “As the globe becomes smaller in terms of business, and increasing numbers of companies follow a multi-national model, transfer pricing is becoming a hot issue.

“I live in Yorkshire and believe there is significant demand from businesses in the region for comprehensive tax management advice that meets the global challenges they face and I look forward to working with KPMG clients to provide them with exactly that.”

KPMG has also just announced some changes to the tax leadership team in the UK:

Anneli Collins moves from heading up the International Corporate Tax team to become Head of M&A Tax.

Chris Morgan, formerly head of the EU law group, becomes Head of International Corporate Tax.

Stuart Hindle, previously deputy head of our indirect tax practice, takes on the role of Head of Tax for KPMG’s “Consumer and Industrial Markets” division.

Sue Bonney, UK Head of Tax and People Services at KPMG, said: “We are looking to build on a very successful period of growth while responding to market changes around us. I am delighted that Anneli , Chris and Stuart are taking on these important positions in our tax team and wish them luck and success in their new roles.”