KPMG appoints Linda Ellett as UK Head of Consumer Markets

30 May 2018 Consultancy.uk

KPMG has appointed a new UK Head for its Consumer Markets offering. Linda Ellet will lead the firm’s consumer wing forward in what is a challenging time for clients on the UK highstreet.

Political and economic uncertainties continue to grip, with government infighting in the UK regarding Brexit leaving businesses and consumers increasingly frustrated, as they are unable to plan for an uncertain future. This has seen numerous surveys suggest that consumer confidence is likely to have an impact on luxury and leisure spending in the near future, as households tighten their belts in turbulent times.

Despite the number of reports having maintained that UK consumers would still be ‘bullish’ or being committed to ‘experience spending’ well into 2018, however, this was undoubtedly one of the key factors in Britain’s economic slow-down to a virtual standstill in the first three months of 2018. The 0.1% GDP growth reported by the Office for National Statistics was the weakest period of activity since 2012 – the last time it entered negative growth.

Linda Ellett, Head of Consumer Markets - KPMG

As consumer businesses grapple with the faltering demand from the public, compounded by stagnant productivity and low wage growth, as well as the impact of rapid-technological change, Big Four professional services firm KPMG has announced its new leader to help address such issues. Linda Ellet, co-founder of KPMG’s C-Suite Leadership Programme, has spent the last five years working with top executives across various sectors to reimagine the future of business – and of society – and how they should position their business to succeed.

Ellet has been with the firm since 2000, and in her latest role as a Pensions and Investment Advisory Partner at KPMG, she will focus on the consumer, retail and leisure sectors. While she will also continue to work in the pensions practice, this will see her role expand to place her as the leader of the firm’s consumer markets across all offerings.

Commenting on Linda Ellett’s appointment, Dan Thomas, Head of Corporates at KPMG UK, said, “From her time as a Pensions Partner, Linda brings to the role significant expertise of, and passion for, working with consumer-focused businesses. Linda has also established and led our client executive programme which coaches the FTSE CEO’s of tomorrow to think strategically about the impact of disruption and change. I am thrilled to appoint Linda as the Consumer Sector’s new lead.”

Linda Ellett, incoming UK Head of Consumer Markets, added, “This is an exciting time for consumer-focused businesses, with ever-changing consumer expectations, a continued squeeze on margins, and of course the myriad of opportunities presented by disruptive start-ups and technology. Connecting our clients across this eco-system, as well as across sectors and geographies, creates resilience, agility and competitive strength.”