BRUSSELS, 1 November 2022 – BDO today announced that Pat Kramer, former CEO of BDO in Canada and member of the BDO Global Board of Directors, will succeed Keith Farlinger as Global CEO of the BDO organization.
Commenting on his appointment, Pat says: “I am delighted to be replacing Keith, who has done a fantastic job over the last few years. Keith's focus has been on unifying BDO as a global organization, based on a strong leadership strategy that includes initiatives to manage risk and invest in quality. In my new role, I will build on what Keith has started, to protect and strengthen BDO as he leads with our great culture and shared purpose of People Helping People. However, those focus areas aside, today's biggest challenge is undoubtedly the pace of change. We are no longer periodically interrupted by change, we now live in a world of change.”
Talent is key in a world of change
In a business world dominated by change, one of Pat's most important areas of focus will be talent, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. From the 'war for talent' to the 'Great Resignation', every business in the world, from SMEs to large corporations, is struggling to attract and retain the right talent.
There are many drivers of the growing talent crisis. The business landscape changed in every way due to the recent healthcare crisis. As the pace of change increased, so did the need for very different profiles, which were not readily available on the market. Aggravated and accelerated by the pandemic, people have also begun to rethink what they want from life. Flexible and hybrid working must be taken seriously, and the mental, physical and financial well-being of talent forces an undeniable need. Finally, today's new talents have clear expectations when entering the business world. They will choose their employer, not only based on fair remuneration and mental health, but also on company culture, ethical behavior, inclusivity and sustainability.
Pat continues: “BDO is a people-driven organisation. Our talents are our true strength. Without the right talent, we won't be able to help with our customers' (changing) problems, we'll struggle to meet the quality standards we pride ourselves on, and we won't be able to grow. Just like any other organization, we face those same challenges. To turn these challenges into an opportunity, we will leverage the great work of our member firms and continue to invest, with a global mindset, in global talent initiatives to create a culture of learning and development.
By increasing collaboration across all of our firms and viewing our collaborators around the world as one large talent pool, we will not only gain productivity, but also enable our people to become true global citizens, working together on a variety of issues. projects and providing more flexibility and more opportunities for growth. Other than that, DE&I – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are very important to me. Important steps have been taken to have a more diverse workforce, but more needs to be done.”
Wayne Berson, Chairman of the BDO Global Board concludes: “Due to his previous international role, Pat has earned great respect at BDO and was the unanimous choice of the BDO Global Board. We wish Pat every success in his new role and thank Keith for his exemplary service over the past few years.”
About Pat Kramer
Pat Kramer based in Calgary, Canada, has been the CEO of BDO in Canada for the past seven years, during which time the Firm has grown impressively in revenue, celebrated its Centennial in 2021 and joined the ranks of the 100 Canada's largest employers.
Pat has over 30 years of industry experience advising Canadian companies on complex business issues. He has held numerous leadership positions throughout his 32-year career at BDO. His leadership is marked by a focus on culture and digital transformation.
He has been a Canadian member of the BDO Global Board since his appointment as CEO. Pat has been integrally involved in strategic planning and execution and is deeply committed to our international organization.
Commenting on his appointment, Pat says: “I am delighted to be replacing Keith, who has done a fantastic job over the last few years. Keith's focus has been on unifying BDO as a global organization, based on a strong leadership strategy that includes initiatives to manage risk and invest in quality. In my new role, I will build on what Keith has started, to protect and strengthen BDO as he leads with our great culture and shared purpose of People Helping People. However, those focus areas aside, today's biggest challenge is undoubtedly the pace of change. We are no longer periodically interrupted by change, we now live in a world of change.”
Talent is key in a world of change
In a business world dominated by change, one of Pat's most important areas of focus will be talent, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. From the 'war for talent' to the 'Great Resignation', every business in the world, from SMEs to large corporations, is struggling to attract and retain the right talent.
There are many drivers of the growing talent crisis. The business landscape changed in every way due to the recent healthcare crisis. As the pace of change increased, so did the need for very different profiles, which were not readily available on the market. Aggravated and accelerated by the pandemic, people have also begun to rethink what they want from life. Flexible and hybrid working must be taken seriously, and the mental, physical and financial well-being of talent forces an undeniable need. Finally, today's new talents have clear expectations when entering the business world. They will choose their employer, not only based on fair remuneration and mental health, but also on company culture, ethical behavior, inclusivity and sustainability.
Pat continues: “BDO is a people-driven organisation. Our talents are our true strength. Without the right talent, we won't be able to help with our customers' (changing) problems, we'll struggle to meet the quality standards we pride ourselves on, and we won't be able to grow. Just like any other organization, we face those same challenges. To turn these challenges into an opportunity, we will leverage the great work of our member firms and continue to invest, with a global mindset, in global talent initiatives to create a culture of learning and development.
By increasing collaboration across all of our firms and viewing our collaborators around the world as one large talent pool, we will not only gain productivity, but also enable our people to become true global citizens, working together on a variety of issues. projects and providing more flexibility and more opportunities for growth. Other than that, DE&I – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are very important to me. Important steps have been taken to have a more diverse workforce, but more needs to be done.”
Wayne Berson, Chairman of the BDO Global Board concludes: “Due to his previous international role, Pat has earned great respect at BDO and was the unanimous choice of the BDO Global Board. We wish Pat every success in his new role and thank Keith for his exemplary service over the past few years.”
About Pat Kramer
Pat Kramer based in Calgary, Canada, has been the CEO of BDO in Canada for the past seven years, during which time the Firm has grown impressively in revenue, celebrated its Centennial in 2021 and joined the ranks of the 100 Canada's largest employers.
Pat has over 30 years of industry experience advising Canadian companies on complex business issues. He has held numerous leadership positions throughout his 32-year career at BDO. His leadership is marked by a focus on culture and digital transformation.
He has been a Canadian member of the BDO Global Board since his appointment as CEO. Pat has been integrally involved in strategic planning and execution and is deeply committed to our international organization.