KPMG in South Africa has announced the appointment of Michael Rudnicki as the Head of Private Equity (PE), following Warren Watkins’ decision to pursue other interests within the firm.

Trevor Hoole, CEO of KPMG in South Africa, said: "Warren has made an invaluable contribution to KPMG throughout his 28 years with the Firm. Undoubtedly, his experience and collaborative approach has strengthened our PE business in South Africa. We thank him for his support and we look forward to Michael taking the business forward.”

Rudnicki is a partner in KPMG’s Corporate Tax practice and heads the Financial Services and Mergers and Acquisitions tax and legal practice in South Africa.

He advises a number of the key local and international banks and many of the dominant local and international PE houses. He also advises many of the PE houses’ portfolio companies.

In the PE sector, Rudnicki has assisted many players in establishing their local and offshore funds.

His experience also extends to assisting PE houses with buy and sell side due diligences, tax structuring of acquisitions and disposals, and modelling optimal gearing levels and interest deductions.

"I am delighted to be appointed head of KPMG’s PE business in South Africa. I hope that my experience in providing tax advice coupled with my technical expertise will be instrumental in helping the Firm deliver the full potential from our business,” said Rudnicki.

Rudnicki holds a BCom (Rhodes University), Hons BCompt (UNISA), BCom (Hons) Taxation (UCT), MCom in Taxation (University of Johannesburg) and is a Chartered Accountant (SA).