AirTrunk ‘comfortable’ with KPMG switch as emails reveal whistleblower concerns
The KPMG whistleblower sought assurances they would not be ethically compromised when working on AirTrunk and Brambles.
AirTrunk has backed KPMG after emails revealed the embattled consulting firm’s whistleblower felt compelled to seek basic ethical assurances when working on the hyperscale data centre operator’s account.
In emails released by the parliamentary committee overseeing the KPMG scandal, the whistleblower asked then-national managing partner of audit and assurance Julian McPherson to confirm whether he was happy for the whistleblower to start work on AirTrunk and Brambles following his disclosure on the firm’s misuse of confidential client information to win contracts.
“As we discussed I am happy to continue and get involved on AirTrunk but have asked for your assurances that KPMG’s relationship with Alison Kitchen will be one which is arms length in its nature, and no attempts to further coerce or influence Alison will be made outside of the process, whilst noting some conversations have already been had,” the whistleblower said.
Alison Kitchen was appointed independent non-executive director and chair of the audit and risk committee in May 2024. Kitchen was national chair of KPMG Australia and a member of KPMG’s Global and Asia Pacific boards from 2017 to 2023.
