Dive Brief:

•  Former Uber CFO Francois Chadwick has rejoined KPMG to lead its “emerging giants” group within its private enterprise practice, the Big Four accounting firm confirmed to CFO Dive in an email.
• Chadwick started in the new position Oct. 1, KPMG said. KPMG will look to tap Chadwick’s industry knowledge as the 30-year finance veteran returns to the firm after stints in top financial positions at companies including Volta Charging and rideshare Uber.   
• Chadwick’s “varied background, coupled with his expertise in SAAS/technology and sharp operator mindset, will bring value to clients looking to weigh the pros and cons of a public offering and accelerate global operations,” Brad Sprong, private enterprise, tax leader at KPMG LLP.

Dive Insight:

KPMG’s emerging giants group aims to work with startups and other early-stage companies to help cultivate their growth and international expansion. In his new role, Chadwick will work closely with KPMG’s private enterprise tax leader Brad Sprong, the company spokesperson said. 

As leader of the emerging giants group, Chadwick will focus on “accelerating the strategic growth priority” for the firm to provide audit, tax and advisory services to venture capital and private equity-backed businesses “at each stage of their business life cycle,” the company said.

During his prior tenure at KPMG beginning in 2014 and lasting more than five years, Chadwick led the firm’s emerging growth practice. He then moved to Uber where he served in various roles including acting CFO and the rideshare’s global head of tax and accounting, according to his LinkedIn profile.  

While at Uber, he helped grow the finance team to 1,100 employees and was instrumental in helping the company go public in 2019, according to a press release by defense company Shield AI in August 2022 when the firm announced Chadwick would be serving as its CFO.

Chadwick said in a June LinkedIn post that he would step away from his role at Shield AI, which focuses on creating AI pilots for aircraft, and that he was seeking out new professional opportunities.

“Throughout my career I’ve built global teams, led successful rounds of fundraising, spearheaded IPOs of disruptive companies,” as well as led international expansions, Chadwick wrote on LinkedIn. “The goal for my next move is to contribute my expertise to a forward-thinking organization that values innovation, growth and collaboration.”

MET Group and UBS alum Kingsley Afemikhe stepped into the defense technology company’s top finance seat in June, joining Shield AI from electric mobility provider Xos Trucks where he also served as CFO, according to LinkedIn.