Seshani Bala, General Counsel Powerlister joined KPMG NZ in August.
KPMG New Zealand has announced that Seshani Bala recently joined the firm as general counsel, effective August 2021. In this role, she leads KPMG’s legal function, guiding the firm on all legal and governance issues. Bala will report to risk management partner, Paul Herrod and KPMG chief executive, Godfrey Boyce.
Boyce said: “Seshani is an accomplished legal strategist and governance professional and is recognised as such. She has a proven track record leading high-performing teams to support business growth and transformation. We are pleased to add such talent to our leadership team.”
In 2019, Bala was recognised in The Legal500’s General Counsel Powerlist as one of Australia’s most innovative and influential in-house lawyers.
Originally from Auckland, Bala has been in Australia over the past 13 years. Prior to KPMG, she was group executive and general counsel at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She also held global general counsel roles for various FMCG and technology companies and worked in private legal practice at Clayton Utz and Bell Gully.
Her experience spans the specialties of law, governance, and risk management. She has managed global legal operations across various industries, including professional services, technology, FMCG and education. She has guided cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and private equity deals.
Currently based in Sydney, Australia, Bala will wait until borders re-open before safely returning to New Zealand where she will be based in the KPMG Auckland office.
Bala said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to join KPMG New Zealand and to lead the firms’ legal function … It’s exciting to be a part of the firm as it transforms for the future.”
Bala graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts. She has been admitted as barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
Bala is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a graduate of the Asialink Leaders Program.
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