KPMG appoints Acuity’s Amanda Hicks to lead marketing practice after Paul Howes promotion
Amanda Hicks is to lead KPMG’s Customer, Brand & Marketing advisory practice as founding partner Paul Howes takes a key role with the consulting firm’s 12-person national leadership team.
Hicks joined KPMG in 2017 when the firm acquired Acuity, the research and insights company she became CEO of seven years earlier.
At the time of the Acuity acquisition, KPMG launched its Customer, Brand and Marketing consultancy and appointed former trade union official Howe to head the new division.
Shortly after the Acuity purchase, KPMG hired former Google industry leader for mobile and new business development, Lisa Bora to join the group.
Along with Howes, Sarah Vega has also been appointed to the firm’s leadership team, becoming national managing partner of KPMG’s innovation, digital and data business. Prior to joining KPMG last year she served with technology consulting firm Accenture and Commonwealth Bank.
KPMG CEO, Gary Wingrove, said in a statement: “I am delighted to today announce the appointment of Paul and Sarah to our National Executive Committee. They represent the next generation of leaders of the firm. I’m confident they’ll add energetic and new perspectives to our thinking and actions, and make important contributions to the future of our firm.”
“Paul’s track record with us as a business builder, combined with his market presence, position him exceptionally well to support KPMG’s aspirations for continuing to build a strong, vibrant, diverse mid-market business.”
Howes added: “I’m excited an honoured by the opportunity to lead KPMG”s Enterprise business, and have a voice at the executive level of the firm.
“I’ve long thought small business was the engine-room of the Australian economy, and should be the engine-room of the firm. And I can’t wait to get stuck into the next evolution of Enterprise, moving into new areas and new markets and creating new services to help small business deal with change and grow their businesses.”
Earlier this week KPMG announced the acquisition of UX, web and mobile app technology firm, Love Agency, which specialises in building solutions for enterprise and government clients.
She was not the founder of Acuity. It was a rebadged business she inherited. She certainly did not start from zero. Acuity is not a start up. Confirm with her. Thanks.
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Hi Media Commentator,
We’ve checked with KPMG and Amanda was indeed the founder of Acuity or, to be specific, Acuity Research Insights.
There are some other businesses using similar names which may be the reason for the confusion.
Thanks for flagging this, though.
Regards,
Paul Wallbank
Amanda is a great operator, good luck in the new role. Cheers Simon
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No I think I have the right Acuity.
This was a hand me down from the old partners who disbanded or retired. Amanda was the sole beneficiary of the business. Certainly not a start up and certainly not founded by Amanda.
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