KPMG in Qatar Appoints Venkat Krishnaswamy as Country Senior Partner

Doha, Qatar: KPMG in Qatar announced the appointment of Venkat Krishnaswamy as Country Senior Partner, effective 1 October 2026, as part of the firm's long-term leadership succession plan.

Venkat Krishnaswamy succeeds Ahmed Abu Sharkh, who has successfully led the firm for the past 11 years and will continue with the firm to serve as Head of Advisory and a key member of the firm's leadership team; providing strategic continuity and driving long-term sustainable growth, while preserving the firm's strong client and stakeholder relationships. The transition represents an important milestone in KPMG in Qatar's history, reflecting the firm's commitment to long-term succession planning, stewardship, and sustainable growth.

Ahmed leadership has been defined by a steadfast focus on quality, integrity, and long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders across the market. As Head of Advisory, Ahmed will continue to contribute his experience and institutional knowledge to bring the best of KPMG Global Network and to the firm's next phase of growth.

Prior to his appointment as Country Senior Partner, Venkat served as Partner and Head of Advisory at KPMG in Qatar. He brings more than 15 years of leadership experience as a Partner in the firm and advising Boards and senior management across government and private clients.

Venkat is widely recognized for his expertise in deal advisory, financial services, and strategic client engagement. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the firm's people, clients, and markets position him well to lead KPMG in Qatar into its next phase of growth and development.

"I am honoured to take on this responsibility and to build on the strong foundation established under Ahmed's leadership. His contribution has helped shape not only our firm but also strengthened our standing in the market, and I am grateful for his guidance and continued partnership."

"We have a highly talented team, a respected market position, and longstanding relationships that provide an excellent foundation for the future. Building on these strengths, my focus will be on investing in our people, enhancing collaboration across our businesses, embracing innovation, and delivering sustainable growth that creates lasting value for our clients, our people, and the communities we serve across Qatar."

Commenting on the transition, Ahmed Abu Sharkh said:

"It has been a great privilege to lead KPMG in Qatar over the past 11 years. I am proud of what we have achieved together and confident that the firm is exceptionally well positioned for the future. Venkat is a highly respected leader whose commitment to our people, clients, and values makes him the right person to lead the next chapter of our journey. I look forward to continuing to support our people, our clients and our firm as Head of Advisory, while working closely with Venkat and all of our partners and leaders across all of KPMG Global during this next chapter."

For further information, please reach out to:
Huda Ibrahim – Hudai@kpmg.com
Faisal Abdelkader – Fabdelkader@kpmg.com
KPMG in Qatar Clients & Markets: qa-fmmarketing@kpmg.com  

About KPMG:   

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. It operates in 145 countries and territories and has more than 226,882 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee.  

KPMG in Qatar belongs to a network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International. With over 226,882 professionals, led by over 10,908 partners worldwide, KPMG’s network allows it to bring together subject matter experts from around the globe to form international teams, with deep insights to tackle the most complex challenges.   

KPMG has had a presence in Qatar for over 45 years. It opened for business here in 1978 and is now one of the largest and most established professional services firms in the country. Its 350+ professionals are led by 10 Qatar-based partners. KPMG in Qatar recruits the best and brightest from around the world and currently employs over 30 different nationalities. It works with some of Qatar’s largest public and private sector organizations across most of the country’s core industries. This provides a deep insight into the challenges and opportunities that its clients experience and a comprehensive understanding of how they can be assisted to respond to these issues.