KPMG’s Dallas practice names Kim Kesler first female managing partner in 105-year history

KPMG, one of the largest accounting firms in the world, is ushering in a new era of leadership at its Dallas office.

The firm named Kim Kesler as the next managing partner of its Dallas practice, effective Aug. 1, making her the first woman to hold that title in the company’s 105-year history.

Kesler, 44, who began her career at KPMG in 2002 and became a partner in 2010, will take over for Manny Fernandez. He’s held the job since 2009 and, at 58, is nearing the firm’s mandatory retirement age, he said.

“I look forward to working with our tremendous team … to help our clients adapt and thrive in today’s ever-changing environment, whether driven by economic forces, changing customer patterns, disruptive technologies or the rapidly-evolving regulatory environment,” Kesler said.

Kesler holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Angelo State University. She has also served as cohort lead at KPMG’s women’s leadership summit, its executive leadership institute for women and has led the executive women’s breakfast at the company’s global energy conference.

“My parents raised me to believe that girls can do anything … and not to sell ourselves short,” Kesler said. “This is just a continuation of that life motto that I’ve had.”

During his 11-year tenure as managing partner, Fernandez oversaw considerable growth at the professional services firm. The size of the Dallas office staff nearly doubled during his time there.

“Whether it’s international tax planning or M&A [mergers and acquisitions] transactions, we’ve seen a lot of growth in that area. And then, of course, on the advisory and consulting side as companies move into the digital world,” Fernandez said. “We’ve also been a beneficiary of the growth in Dallas.”

Major corporate relocations to North Texas in the last decade, such as Toyota North America’s move from California to Plano, have been a boon for KPMG’s Dallas practice, Fernandez said.

“It’s given us an opportunity to expand our footprint in Dallas,” he said.

Fernandez said he plans to stay through September to ensure a smooth leadership transition with Kesler. The firm’s roughly 2,100 employees have been working remotely since Dallas County issued its lockdown order in mid-March.

“Of course, you’d love to sit across the table and have lunch, but we’re doing it very effectively and efficiently thus far,” Fernandez said.