The woman who went from applying for 144 bursaries to taking over a multi-billion rand accounting giant in South Africa
One of the largest auditing firms globally has announced that its South African branch will soon have a new CEO.
KPMG South Africa has declared that Joelene Pierce will assume the role of CEO starting next month, 1 March 2026. The firm’s partners made the decision on 31 July 2025.
KPMG is among the top professional services firms in South Africa and worldwide, with about 2,200 employees across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth.
The firm provides audit, accounting, tax, financial advisory, consulting, and technology services.
Born and raised in a small community in Pietermaritzburg, Pierce started her journey to the top from humble beginnings.
During her eleventh-grade year, her mother sat her down and informed her that she would be unable to afford a university education, thus prompting her to seek alternative funding options.
Together, they explored bursary opportunities, submitted over 140 applications.
Five companies responded; three offered bursaries, and she accepted one—a comprehensive bursary from Eskom that covered the most expenses.
Pierce subsequently pursued her studies at UKZN Pietermaritzburg through the bursary, and when it was time to complete her articles, Eskom—a KPMG client at the time—facilitated her connection with the firm.
The upcoming CEO has been with the firm for 26 years and held a partner position for 19 of those years.
Her appointment was decided through a partner voting process, involving all approximately 150 KPMG partners in South Africa. The vote was held as Ignatius Sehoole gets ready to retire after serving six years as CEO.
“It is an honour to hand over to not only a highly skilled, responsible leader, but one whose career has been underpinned by driving the core principles which we, as a business, are passionate about and actively champion within the sector,” said Sehoole.
“I am extremely grateful and honoured to take on the challenge of leading KPMG in South Africa,” said Pierce.
“My focus will remain on transformation, ethical practice, and embedding critical thinking into our business. This will ensure that, while continuing to strengthen trust in our brand, we also expand the firm’s role in driving social and economic development.”
Currently, she serves as Head of Financial Services in South Africa and is a member of KPMG South Africa’s Policy Board, where she has led the team for the past five years.
“I’ve had various leadership roles, which has also contributed to a very satisfying career, preparing me for this next step,” said Joelene in an interview with Kaya Biz.
How a CEO builds trust
Joelene shared that the company has really built its portfolio at this point, emphasising the importance of building trust in the market.
She expressed her gratitude to the public, who she said gives them the licence to operate.
Joelene stated that the trust built with customers and clients starts within the business, with the new employees, training them to understand the wider purpose that they serve.
“As we get the graduates who come into our firm, we really take them on that journey so that they realise the importance of the role that we play in the capital market and the responsibility that they have in joining the firm,” said Joelene to Kaya Biz.
Joelene highlighted an important aspect of building trust, which is for employees to understand and remember that it is in the public interest that they must act.
“In terms of our external consultation, we have significant and really close relationships with our clients and our regulators, working with them in areas that they find challenging.”
Joelene shared that an important role is to ask for feedback and to actively engage with clients to understand how to strengthen their brand.
She shared the importance of involving clients in decision-making and maintaining close relationships with them.
“We still have independent non-executive directors who have joined us in the context of the company’s act,” shared Joelene.
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