KPMG UK bolsters crypto and payments team
Previously, Harmston was head of KPMG Australia’s financial services transformation team, and Taylor was the executive director of Crypto UK
KPMG UK has appointed Peter Harmston as a partner and Ian Taylor as a director within its financial services practice, as the firm strengthens its offering to clients in the technology space.
In his new role, Harmston will lead the development of KPMG’s payments practice, while Taylor will lead the firm’s crypto and digital assets team.
Harmston re-joins KPMG UK from KPMG Australia, where he was head of the financial services transformation team. He worked at KPMG Australia for over 11 years and co-led the development of the Australian payments practice, as well as leading the implementation of faster payments architecture across the Australian banking sector.
Prior to moving to Australia, Harmston’s work experience includes stints at KPMG UK and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Meanwhile, Taylor has over 20 years’ experience working in capital markets and disruptive technologies. Prior to joining KPMG, he was the executive director of Crypto UK, the UK’s trade association representing over 120 companies from across the UK digital asset sector.
Before joining Crypto UK, Taylor led teams across several global banks, specialising in FX, fixed income markets and liquidity management, among others.
Additionally, Taylor will continue to have an advisory role at Crypto UK alongside his new role at KPMG.
Karim Haji, UK and EMA head of financial services, said: “We have a thriving financial services practice that is committed to recruiting, retaining and building the best talent, and Peter and Ian are great additions to the team. They both work in fast evolving and disruptive sectors and it’s fantastic to offer our clients additional high calibre expertise.”
Harmston added: “I’m really looking forward to working at KPMG UK again having just moved back here from Australia. We have a huge opportunity to build on the great work we are doing with clients in payments transformation and I’m excited to help them navigate the rapidly changing payments landscape.”
Taylor said: “I’m delighted to join KPMG UK to lead the digital assets team as we continue to build out our capabilities and expertise in this space. KPMG’s financial services practice offers clients market-leading advice on digital assets and I’m really looking forward to working with the team to help our clients in this ecosystem.”
