U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP announced that it has hired Elena Richards to be the firm’s new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In her new role, Richards will be responsible for leading the firm’s national Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) team, partnering with KPMG’s leadership teams to enhance the organization’s inclusive and diverse culture and working closely with the management team and board of directors to advance KPMG’s Accelerate 2025 initiative. Launched in June 2020, Accelerate 2025 is KPMG’s five-year strategy aimed at accelerating accelerate diversity and equity in the workplace.

Richards joins KPMG after working for over 20 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), most recently serving in the role of Managing Director on PwC’s national diversity team. While at PwC, Richards worked to design and execute strategic diversity and talent management initiatives for the organization’s employees in the United States.

Paul Knopp, Chair and CEO, KPMG LLP, said:

“At KPMG, our commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion reflects our values and is foundational to our culture. We’re thrilled to welcome Elena, a well-respected and experienced leader who will work closely with me and our firm’s leaders to make meaningful progress against our I&D priorities.”