In a major boost to the firm’s diversity in its top ranks, KPMG has appointed a female partner of its small Dutch organisation to lead its global Healthcare practice.

Anna van Poucke has been working for KPMG since 2011, and was appointed a partner in 2013. In the past seven years, she led KPMG’s Healthcare practice in the Netherlands, and under her direction, the industry vertical has seen strong growth in the local market. 

The unit works for among others healthcare providers, hospitals and care institutions on topics such as strategy development, portfolio management, digital transformation, audit & assurance, financial management, mergers & acquisitions, risk management, healthcare contracting and regional collaboration.

The Healthcare practice also works together with ministries, local governments and watchdogs on government policy, evaluation of healthcare policies, scenario planning and the future of work. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the practice has also been a trusted advisor to stakeholders on Covid-19 response.

Alongside her domestic role, Van Poucke already had an international mandate. She is the global lead of KPMG’s ‘healthcare system redesign’ proposition and is a member of its Global Center of Excellence for Health. In the roles, she works with clients from the Nordics and Canada to Singapore and South Africa on helping them improve their national health systems and their regional and local healthcare provision. 

On the back of her track record, Van Poucke has now per October 1, 2020 been appointed as Global Leader of the Healthcare practice. The promotion sees her lead a team of over 10,000 professionals – accountants, consultants, financial advisors and lawyers – in over 150 countries. She becomes the first Netherlands-based leader to hold this role, and the only Dutch partner to currently lead one of KPMG’s industry verticals worldwide.

While the Dutch practice today is dwarfed by the firm’s larger practises such as the US, Germany, France or the UK, generating less than 3% of KPMG International’s €25 billion global revenue, the country holds a special place in the firm’s heritage. The K in KPMG’s brand stems from Dutch accountancy firm Klynveld that launched in Amsterdam in 1917. Following a string of mergers, in 1987 Dutch-German Klynveld Main Goerdeler merged with UK-US Peat Marwick to form KPMG.

Meanwhile, while the three other Big Four giants (Deloitte, EY and PwC) are headquartered in London, KPMG is headquartered in the Netherlands.

Van Poucke takes over the baton from the Brit Mark Britnell, who is passing the torch after eleven years at the helm. He will continue as a partner in the Healthcare practice of KPMG’s UK organisation, and is confident that his succession is placed in good hands. “I’m pleased that Anna will take over responsibility, she will be awesome in the role.” 

Britnell is also the Global Head of KPMG’s Government practice. This role will be taken over by the Australian Liz Forsyth.