KPMG Names Stephen G. Butler as Chairman of Global Firm - WITH PHOTO -

NEW YORK (PROTEXT) - KPMG International announced today that Stephen G. Butler, 51, has been named chairman of the worldwide professional services firm. Butler succeeds Colin M. Sharman, 56, former senior partner of the firm's U.K. practice, who completed his term of office. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990701/NYTH006 ) Butler will remain chairman and CEO of KPMG LLP, the United States accounting, tax and consulting firm, and chairman of KPMG's recently formed Americas region. An executive with an extensive background in international business, he has been credited as the chief architect of numerous strategic and client service innovations, developed within the United States firm, to serve global clients. As chairman of KPMG International, Butler leads a firm of more than 100,000 people worldwide that operates in 160 countries from over 800 offices, providing assurance, tax, consulting and financial advisory services. Last year, the international firm recorded revenues of $10.4 billion, a growth of 15.6 percent over the prior fiscal year. Paul Reilly, chief executive officer of KPMG International, will continue in his full-time role as head of the international executive team, working with Butler. "I'm enthused about KPMG's future prospects," Butler said. "We'll continue moving KPMG toward a vision that emphasizes a cohesive and capable firm that effectively serves multinational clients anywhere they operate. "KPMG has made substantial investments in new technologies, in knowledge sharing, and in human resources to globalize faster than any competitor -- and to serve our clients with experienced professionals and an information-rich product line," he said. Butler also noted, "Colin Sharman has guided KPMG through a period of great change -- change within our organization itself and change in the marketplace. Through it all, Colin has demonstrated foresight, adaptability and strategic wisdom. His actions will have positive, far-reaching implications for KPMG, and we wish him continued success." Butler was elected chairman and CEO of KPMG LLP, the United States firm, in October 1996. He was formerly managing partner of metro New York, the firm's largest office worldwide, and partner- in-charge of KPMG's financial services practice in New York. Most recently, he was named chairman of KPMG's newly formed Americas region, one of three global operating regions. Butler was appointed to the U.S. firm's management committee in 1992, when he was named partner-in-charge, international, of KPMG's U.S. practice. During that time, he was a member of the KPMG Japanese practice council, on the board and management committee of KPMG Huazhen (PRC), the KPMG Latin American regional board, and the KPMG Asia Pacific regional board. Earlier, Butler was named managing partner of KPMG's international headquarters in Amsterdam in 1989, where he coordinated the activities of all KPMG international committees and regional organizations. Previously, he served as managing partner of the firm's Memphis, Tenn. office and the firm's Jacksonville, Fla. office. He was elected to the partnership in 1979. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Butler graduated cum laude with a degree in business from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1969. He joined KPMG that same year. Butler is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and he serves on the advisory board of INSEAD/the European Institute of Business Administration in France. He is a member of the New York City Partnership, the board of governors of the United Way of Tri-State, the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the board of trustees of the U.S. Council for International Business. KPMG LLP is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. In the U.S., KPMG partners and professionals provide a wide range of accounting, tax and consulting services. As a provider of information-based services, KPMG delivers understandable business advice helping clients analyze their businesses with true clarity, raise their level of performance, achieve growth and enhance shareholder value. KPMG International's member firms have more than 100,000 professionals, including 6,800 partners, in 160 countries. KPMG's Web site is http://www.us.kpmg.com. ots Original Text Service: KPMG International Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: George Ledwith, 201-505-3543, or John Fidler, 201-505-8849, both of KPMG Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990701/NYTH006 PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 Web site: http://www.us.kpmg.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT