Islam Ahmad Al Bayaa

Islam Ahmad Al Bayaa was appointed Chief Executive Officer of KPMG Middle East, effective October 1, 2026, following a rigorous and independent selection process led by the firm's governance bodies, supported by external advisors, and concluded through a partner vote. He succeeds Dr. Abdullah Al Fozan, who will complete his term on September 30, 2026.

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Al Bayaa served as Head of Advisory for KPMG Middle East, leading more than 2,400 professionals and 100 partners across the region. He brings over 30 years of leadership experience spanning advisory, transactions, and enterprise transformation, and has been a member of KPMG Middle East's Executive Committee for the past 13 years. Throughout his career, he has built deep relationships with governments, sovereign entities, and major institutional clients across the Middle East, while leading cross-border growth, market integration, and large-scale transformation initiatives across the region.

Career history

• Head of Advisory, KPMG Middle East (current role prior to CEO appointment)
• Rejoined KPMG Saudi Arabia in January 2009 following decade-long tenure at investment banks
• Vice President and Senior Manager roles at Salomon Smith Barney (now Citigroup), Hawkpoint, and Kessler in London (over 10 years combined)
• Early career with KPMG in the UK

Education

• Masters in Finance, London Business School, UK
• Masters in Mathematics, Cambridge University, UK
• ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, UK

What Islam Al Bayaa could bring to Chief Executive Officer at KPMG Middle East: Based on his documented track record, Al Bayaa is positioned to leverage his 30+ years of advisory and transaction experience to drive strategic growth across KPMG Middle East's regional operations. His deep relationships with governmental and sovereign entities—built over more than a decade on the executive committee—suggest he can strengthen the firm's positioning in key Middle Eastern markets. His expertise in enterprise transformation and large-scale market integration initiatives indicates he may focus on evolving KPMG's operating model to address rapidly changing business dynamics in the region while maintaining the firm's commitment to quality and client-centric delivery.