KPMG IN THE U.S. AND IN CANADA LAUNCH METAVERSE COLLABORATION HUB

Collaboration hub will engage our hybrid workforce, bringing employees, clients and communities together to drive innovation in the physical and digital worlds

NEW YORK and TORONTO, ON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, KPMG in the U.S. and KPMG in Canada announced the opening of the first KPMG metaverse collaboration hub, where employees, clients and communities will connect, engage and explore opportunities for growth across industries and sectors. The collaboration hub is the next step in both firms' journeys to lead their people and clients into Web 3.0. Both firms have formed dedicated teams to help clients develop and execute their own metaverse strategies.

"The metaverse is a market opportunity, a way to re-engage talent and a path to connect people across the globe through a new collaborative experience," said Laura Newinski, deputy chair and chief operating officer at KPMG in the U.S. "The unique experience provided by our collaboration hub will tap the creativity and passion of our people and clients to accelerate innovation."

"Launching a collaborative space in the metaverse is a natural evolution in our journey as an innovation-driven firm," said Elio Luongo, chief executive officer and senior partner at KPMG in Canada. "The world has changed drastically over the last few years, and our people and clients are interested in exploring new ways of working. This offers them a new immersive space to exchange ideas."

The launch follows recent crypto and Web 3.0 announcements by both firms:

• KPMG in Canada has added Ethereum and Bitcoin to its corporate treasury and engaged with the broader crypto ecosystem through the acquisition of a World of Women NFT.
• KPMG in the U.S. has integrated the non-fungible token experience and crypto trainings into onboarding for new professionals.
• Both firms have begun leveraging Chain Fusion®, a proprietary tool that helps provide audit services for financial services, fintech and crypto-native companies.

As part of their strategic innovation roadmap, the firms will continue to explore opportunities in the crypto and Web 3.0 space, co-create new tools and solutions that provide critical insights, launch immersive learning and development platforms, recruit talent to lend expertise and help navigate the evolving convergence of the physical and digital worlds, among other things.

"The metaverse and Web 3.0 represent the next generation of the internet and will reshape the way businesses and consumers engage, transact, socialize and work," said Cliff Justice, KPMG U.S.' leader of Enterprise Innovation. "Business leaders are looking to move quickly past exploratory phases and deploy solutions to train employees, engage customers and extend their brand in this new market."       

"The metaverse is making it possible for us to experience the 'phygital' world, where physical and digital worlds collide," said Armughan Ahmad, president & managing partner of Digital at KPMG in Canada. "The metaverse is a $13 trillion market opportunity that could boast as many as five billion users by 2030. Our first immersive metaversal experience will take our people, clients and communities beyond the traditional two-dimensional virtual environment and offer new levels of social connection, mobility and collaboration. Think of it as a world without borders that has the potential to enhance our lives by providing new opportunities to work, learn and play."

Both KPMG in the U.S. and KPMG in Canada have formed dedicated teams with deep technology and innovation experience to provide both strategic and technical support across the metaverse ecosystem, including metaverse design, use cases of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), cryptoassets, community engagement and broader Web 3.0 integrations.

KPMG in the U.S. leaders include Cliff Justice, leader of Enterprise Innovation; Anu Puvvada, managing director of Innovation; and Kevin Bolen, head of Advisory Strategy and Investments. KPMG in Canada leaders include Armughan Ahmad, president & managing partner of Digital; Katie Bolla, Metaverse Services co-leader and partner of Customer Experience and Innovation; and Kareem Sadek, Metaverse Services co-leader and Cryptoassets and Blockchain Services co-leader.

Read more about KPMG's metaverse consulting capabilities and explore opportunities across both firm's metaverse experience.

KPMG LLP (U.S.) is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 144 countries and territories and has more than 236,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity affiliated with KPMG International, a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.

KPMG LLP (Canada), a limited liability partnership, is a full-service Audit, Tax and Advisory firm owned and operated by Canadians. For over 150 years, our professionals have provided consulting, accounting, auditing, and tax services to Canadians, inspiring confidence, empowering change, and driving innovation. Guided by our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better, KPMG employs more than 10,000 people in over 40 locations across Canada, serving private- and public-sector clients. KPMG is consistently ranked one of Canada's top employers and one of the best places to work in the country.

The firm is established under the laws of Ontario and is a member of KPMG's global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a private English company limited by guarantee. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. For more information, see home.kpmg/ca.

Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

Melanie Batley
KPMG LLP
201-419-0677
[email protected]

Roula Meditskos
KPMG in Canada
(416) 549-7982
[email protected]

SOURCE KPMG LLP