KPMG feels the squeeze

Friday 23rd February 2001

By Jock Anderson

Big five firm KPMG Consulting has continued to shed staff from its human resources consultancy division.

Forbidden to talk about cuts lest they alarm clients, staff said the HR consultancy division, which has offices in Wellington and Auckland, was facing closure, a claim vigorously denied from Singapore yesterday by CEO Peter Kane.

Staff said KPMG had recently put up its rates and there was market resistance to senior consultants charging between $2500 and $3500 a day.

Mr Kane said about 12 staff were likely to go, not 30 as alleged to NBR, and said overall staff numbers had increased.

About 20 staff were axed last May, following the sale of KPMG Consulting by its parent professional services giant KPMG.

KPMG Consulting has tried to reposition itself as a technology consultancy. When the company culled staff last May Mr Kane said some staff had not fitted in with a new direction.

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