Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images
LONDON – Bill Michael, chairman of UK accounting giant KPMG, resigned after telling staff to stop moaning about the coronavirus pandemic during a virtual meeting earlier this week.
KPMG confirmed on Friday that Michael, who has led the British company since 2017, has resigned from his role.
Speaking at a virtual town hall on Monday, Michael told employees that after talking to partners and employees at various levels of the company, “they almost feel like they’re doing this,” referring to their experience with the pandemic. of coronavirus.
“Well, you can’t play the role of the victim unless you’re sick and I hope you’re not sick, you’re not sick, and if you’re not, take control of your life,” he said. “Don’t sit there and moan about it, honestly,” Michael said.
Michael also described the unconscious prejudice as “complete crap”, adding that he believed that “there is no such thing”.
In a statement issued Friday on his departure, Michael said that “he is really sorry that my words also hurt my colleagues for the impact that this week’s events had on them.”
Because of this incident, Michael said he now found his position as president “unsustainable” and decided to leave KPMG. He added that he was “extremely proud” of what KPMG staff had accomplished, “especially in these very difficult times.”
Bina Mehta, a member of the elected senior council, took over as acting president, while Mary O’Connor, head of customers and markets, took on Michael’s day-to-day responsibilities.
In his biography of Michael on the KPMG website, he said that he “led KPMG’s work on the financial crisis and supported debates about the culture and standards of banks and the need for change in the industry.”