KPMG, one of the Big Four global accounting firms, has announced the appointment of three key partners - Anuj Agarwal, Uthman Al-Basri, and Antonio Tapia, in the Lower Gulf region, effective from April 2024.

The newly appointed partners will spearhead the firm’s market presence in the region. In his new role, Anuj brings over 15 years of industry experience. He joined KPMG in the UAE in 2021 as the Director of Advisory and played a pivotal role in the governance, risk, and compliance practice within the energy, oil & gas, renewables, and utilities sectors. In previous roles, he served at Protiviti, Ernst & Young, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in key positions. On the academic front, Anuj holds a BTech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA degree in Strategy and Leadership Operations from the Indian School of Business. He will work closely with recently appointed partners Tejas Mehta and Saeb Mouaget on the governance, risk & compliance team.

Uthman, who has been appointed as Transaction Partner, brings over 14 years of experience encompassing mergers & acquisitions, financial advisory, and transaction services across the MENA region. Before his appointment, he worked with Deloitte in the Middle East.

On the other hand, Antonio brings over 13 years of leadership experience in transfer pricing and international tax across Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East region. He joined KPMG last year as the Director of Transfer Pricing. In previous roles, he worked with PwC in the Middle East and Deloitte in Spain. On the academic side, he holds a master’s degree in Business Tax Advice from IE Business School, an executive master’s degree in business law from Centro de Estudios Garrigues, and a bachelor degree in Business Administration and Management from Burgundy School of Business.

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Welcoming all three partners in their new leadership roles, Emilio Pera, CEO, and Senior Partner at KPMG Lower Gulf, said, “We are delighted to welcome these three new partners to our family. Their diverse expertise and proven track records enhance our capabilities within a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex market and will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success in providing exceptional services to our clients.”

Anuj also shared on LinkedIn, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as a Partner at KPMG!”

Antonio posted, “I am excited to share with all of you that I have been promoted to Partner at KPMG Lower Gulf. As I step into this new role, I am eager to significantly contribute to the success of KPMG Lower Gulf, especially within the Transfer Pricing and Tax Practice. I am very excited to embark on this new chapter, fully committed to making a positive impact and driving our firm toward greater achievements and continuing to serve our clients with excellence.”