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LONDON – Bill Michael, the British chairman of accounting firm KPMG, has resigned after telling staff to stop complaining about the coronavirus pandemic earlier this week.
KPMG confirmed on Friday that Michael, who has been head of the British firm since 2017, has resigned from his role.
Speaking in a virtual town hall on Monday, Michael told staff that they had spoken to partners and employees at various levels in the firm “it almost feels like it was being done to them”, referring to their experience of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Well, you can not play the role of a victim unless you are sick and I hope you are not sick, you are not sick, and if you do not, take control of your life,” he said. he said. “Do not sit there, honestly,” Michael said.
Michael also described unconscious prejudice as ‘complete shit’, adding that he believes there is ‘no such thing’.
In a statement released on Friday about his departure, Michael said he was “really sorry that my words hurt my colleagues and for the impact this week’s events have had on them.”
It was because of this incident that Michael said that he now finds his position as chairman untenable and that he has decided to leave KPMG. He added that he was ‘extremely proud’ of what KPMG staff had achieved, especially in these very challenging times. ‘
Bina Mehta, a senior elected board member, took over as acting chair, while Mary O’Connor, head of clients and markets, took over Michael’s day-to-day executive responsibilities.
Michael’s biography on KPMG’s website states that he ” came to the forefront of KPMG’s work on the financial crisis and the debate on banking culture and standards and advocated the need for change in the industry. ”