KPMG’s First Global AI Head David Rowlands Retires, Leaving Ethical Framework Legacy

KPMG’s pioneering Global Head of Artificial Intelligence (AI), David Rowlands, has announced his retirement following the successful establishment of a comprehensive global AI strategy and ethical guidelines within the professional services firm.

This development signals a shift in technological leadership as Steve Chase assumes the expanded role that was vacated by Rowlands.

Appointed as KPMG International’s first AI leader in December 2023, Rowlands has been instrumental in integrating AI across various service lines and promoting ethical principles among the organization’s workforce of approximately 270,000 employees.

Under his leadership, KPMG developed its Trusted AI Framework, which emphasizes fairness, human-centricity, and sustainability as key principles for responsible AI implementation across their global network. This framework sets industry standards for ethical AI usage within the firm.