JOHANNESBURG – South African KPMG has announced the appointment of Jolen Pierce as the new CEO of the South African company.
The appointment, effective March 1, 2026, was made as a result of the impending retirement of incumbent CEO Ignatius Sefur.
Sehoole will retire on March 1, 2026.
The company's partners voted for an appointment on July 31, 2025, suggesting that Pierce not only has the strength of the expertise that Pierce brings to the company, but also provides the unparalleled expertise that leads the business, providing an understanding of the unique and dynamic nature of the clients it operates and the economic environment.
Pierce is currently head of South Africa's financial services and is a member of the KPMG South Africa Policy Committee.
Having worked with the company for the past 26 years and assumed the role of 19 of them, she has brought extensive expertise in key areas of financial services, including retail banking, the Ministry of Corporate Treasury, securitization structures, and has worked with most of the company's top 10 clients.
Ignatius Sehoole, current CEO of KPMG South Africa and chairman of KPMG Africa, said:
He continued. “But it's not just technical skills and know-how that sets a CEO apart, it's the ability to truly connect with a variety of stakeholders and ensure that everyone, internally and externally, continues to commit to the key values and principles of the company.
“Her appointment ensures that her innovative and focus on the next generation of thinking is prioritized along with the key focus areas of ethical governance, integrity, and that she is accountable to businesses to maintain public trust.
“This is essential to building a company of the future for both our clients and our people.”
Commenting on her appointment, CEO Joelene Pierce said:
“I focus on transformation and ethical practice, and embedding critical thinking into business.
“This ensures that, in addition to focusing on instilling trust in the brand, we continue to expand the role of companies in social and economic development.
“We have a strong client base across different sectors, and based on this, it will become a priority as we continue to develop our people and culture.”
KMPG said Sehoole and Pierce will be taking on intensive handovers over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition to her role and continue to provide unwavering support and high quality services to businesses, clients and employees.
“We would like to thank Ignatius for everything being the best and for his unwavering commitment to the KPMG brand over the past six years,” said Professor Nkuhlu, chairman of KPMG South Africa.
“His contributions are exceptional, and he leads this business with the highest level of ethics, transparency and hard work, and has a firm commitment to change and market excellence.”
