"The appointment of John as our new CDO is an important change for our firm and recognises the rapid increase and pace of technology transformation in the market and in our own business," said KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates.

"Our clients are facing significant digital challenges, and John will be responsible for ensuring we are optimally placed to support them now, and into the future. Key to John's role will be a focus on enhancing our technology employee value proposition."

Munnelly joined KPMG in 2015 as a result of the acquisition of Hands-On Systems, where he was CEO.

He became a partner in the firm's management consulting division in 2017, and is also KPMG's global Microsoft business applications leader, overseeing 3000 people across 21 countries.

Munnelly holds a bachelor of economics degree from the University of Sydney, and a master's degree in management from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

"Technology has been the core driver behind most business transformation initiatives for decades, and I am excited to take on this new challenge as KPMG Australia's first CDO," he said.

"It is more important than ever before that we communicate our technology story externally, to help clients get ahead of the change in their industries and organisations.

"I'm also looking forward to helping to enhance the technology skills and career paths of our people and leading our firm's own ambitious technology agenda."