KPMG adds two financial services experts to UK wing

As consulting firms continue to ramp up their cryptocurrency expertise, KPMG has recruited two experts in financial services modernisation. Ian Taylor will lead its digital assets wing as a Director, while Peter Harmston joins as a Partner in payments.

Karim Haji, UK and EMA Head of Financial services at KPMG, commented, “We have a thriving financial services practice that is committed to recruiting, retaining and building the best talent, and Peter and Ian are great additions to the team. They both work in fast evolving and disruptive sectors and it’s fantastic to offer our clients additional high calibre expertise in these areas.”

Peter Harmston re-joins KPMG UK from KPMG Australia. There, he was head of the financial services transformation team. He worked at KPMG Australia for over 11 years and co-led the development of the Australian payments practice. Prior to moving to Australia, he also spent time with KPMG UK and Royal Bank of Scotland. As a Partner in the UK, Harmston will, put his experience of implementing faster payments architecture across the Australian banking sector to use, leading the development of the UK firm’s payments practice.

Harmston noted, “I’m really looking forward to be working at KPMG UK again having just moved back here from Australia. We have a huge opportunity to build on the great work we are doing with clients in payments transformation and I’m excited to help them navigate the rapidly changing payments landscape.”

Ian Taylor meanwhile brings over 20 years of experience working in capital markets and disruptive technologies. Prior to joining KPMG, Taylor was Executive Director of Crypto UK (where he maintains an advisory role), the UK’s trade association representing more than 120 companies from across the UK digital asset sector. Earlier in his career, he also led teams across many global banks, specialising in FX, fixed income markets and liquidity management, among others. As a Director within the firm’s financial services practice, Taylor will lead the firm’s crypto and digital assets team as it strengthens its offering to clients in the disruptive technology space.

Taylor remarked, “I’m delighted to join KPMG UK to lead the digital assets team as we continue to build out our capabilities and expertise in this space. KPMG’s financial services practice offers clients market-leading advice on digital assets and I’m really looking forward to working with the team to help our clients in this ecosystem.”