Venkat Krishnaswamy — Country Senior Partner, KPMG in Qatar, from 1 October

Summary

• KPMG in Qatar named Venkat Krishnaswamy Country Senior Partner, effective 1 October 2026.
• He succeeds Ahmed Abu Sharkh, who led the Qatar firm for 11 years.
• The handover follows a succession plan, with Abu Sharkh staying on to run Advisory.

The latest

Venkat Krishnaswamy takes over as Country Senior Partner of KPMG in Qatar on 1 October 2026, ending an 11-year run at the top by Ahmed Abu Sharkh. The firm said the appointment is part of a long-term leadership succession plan. Abu Sharkh is not leaving: he becomes Head of Advisory and stays on the leadership team, a role the firm framed as strategic continuity.

Details

• The appointment: KPMG in Qatar announced that Krishnaswamy becomes Country Senior Partner effective 1 October 2026, describing the move as part of the firm's long-term leadership succession plan rather than an unplanned transition. The announcement was issued from Doha as an official press release.
• Who he is: Krishnaswamy was previously Partner and Head of Advisory at KPMG in Qatar, the same practice he now hands over. The firm said he brings more than 15 years of leadership experience as a partner, advising boards and senior management across both government and private-sector clients.
• His specialisms: According to the firm, Krishnaswamy is recognised for deal advisory, financial services and strategic client engagement — a profile weighted toward transactions and advisory work rather than audit, the business line KPMG is historically identified with.
• The outgoing leader: Ahmed Abu Sharkh led the Qatar firm for the past 11 years and is staying on as Head of Advisory and a key member of the leadership team. KPMG said his continued role is meant to provide strategic continuity and drive long-term sustainable growth.
• The handover language: Krishnaswamy said he was honoured to take on the responsibility and to build on the foundation established under Abu Sharkh's leadership. Abu Sharkh said he was proud of what the firm achieved and described it as "exceptionally well positioned for the future."
• The Qatar footprint: KPMG has operated in Qatar for more than 45 years, having opened for business in 1978. The local firm employs more than 350 professionals and is led by 10 Qatar-based partners — the small partner bench that makes the top appointment consequential.
• The global network: KPMG describes itself as a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, operating in 145 countries and territories with more than 226,882 people working across member firms.
• Not disclosed: The announcement did not name a successor to Krishnaswamy as Head of Advisory, since Abu Sharkh assumes that role, nor did it set any term length for the new Country Senior Partner or disclose financial details of the Qatar practice.

Background

Country Senior Partner is the top leadership post in a Big Four member firm's national practice, covering strategy, client relationships and regulatory standing. In Qatar, KPMG's 10 partners oversee more than 350 professionals, making the role a narrow and closely held appointment.

Between the lines

Two signals stand out. First, an advisory leader rather than an audit partner takes the top seat, and his named strengths are deal advisory and financial services — the growth end of the business. Second, the outgoing leader moving into Advisory rather than out of the firm keeps an 11-year client network inside the practice, which is what KPMG itself called strategic continuity.

What's next

The appointment takes effect 1 October 2026. Watch for how KPMG restructures its Qatar advisory practice under Abu Sharkh, and whether the leadership change is followed by further partner-level moves in the 10-partner Doha bench.

Source: KPMG in Qatar (official press release), via Zawya