PWC recruits Qantas veteran
PwC Australia has recruited Karen Lonergan from property developer Stockland as its new chief people officer after major job lay-offs as the under fire accounting and advisory firm looks to rebuild following its tax scandal.
Ms Lonergan has worked at Stockland for the past five years as its chief people and stakeholder engagement officer and before that held similar roles at David Jones and Woolworths and spent 13 years climbing the ranks at Qantas.
As a member of PwC’s management leadership team, Ms Lonergan will play a role in delivering on the commitments the firm made to enhance its culture, as outlined in its Action Plan.
PwC Australia chief executive Kevin Burrowes, who recently signed on to stay in the top job for a further two years, said Ms Lonergan will bring a wealth of knowledge to the role at an important time for the firm and its people.
“Karen will be an asset to our leadership team and is the right person to ensure the steps we have taken to date are comprehensively embedded into the fabric of the firm.”
Ms Lonergan is due to start in her new role from July 1 and said that she is eager to join the firm and to build on the hefty transformation work already underway at PwC.
“As the firm continues to make progress on its commitments to change, I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.”
Ms Lonergan is the permanent replacement for former PwC head of culture Catherine Walsh who jumped ship to beleaguered airline Qantas at the start of the year as its chief people officer.
The appointment of Ms Lonergan comes after PwC recently axed at least 329 PwC Australia staff and a further 37 partners were confirmed to leave the embattled accounting and advisory firm as part of a “simplified, efficient and centre-led” restructure.