KPMG International has undergone a few changes to its top-tier professionals, the first being the election of Bill Thomas to the position of Chairman, and the second being the appointment of Laura Hay to Head of Global Insurance.

Thomas, 49, will lead the KPMG global network of professional services firms for a four-year term. He succeeds John Viehmeyer, who is retiring; he previously served as Chairman of KPMG’s Americas region. A member of the Global Board since 2009, Thomas has championed an inclusive, high-performing culture throughout the network. As CEO and Senior Partner of KPMG in Canada (2009-2016), he achieved strong growth in the market and made strategic investments that contributed to expanding the firm’s capabilities. He has also served as an audit partner for prominent clients in a variety of industries.

Hay, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry, including 25 with KPMG as head of the U.S. insurance practice, has extensive experience working with global insurance clients, helping them to address complex challenges, particularly in the areas of strategy and innovation, accounting change, integrating risk and performance management and financial/actuarial transformation. A Fellow in the Society of Actuaries, Hay is quoted as pointing to ‘digital disruption’ as a challenge for insurance organizations. Hay succeeds Gary Reader, who will become KPMG’s Global Head of Sales and Markets.