KPMG Middle East Appointed First Chief AI Officer
The firm added a dedicated AI role to its executive team to oversee governance and technology adoption for its clients.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in People
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KPMG Middle East has established a new Chief AI Officer position and appointed partner Tareq Dreiza to the role. This move integrates AI oversight directly into the firm's executive committee effective October 9, 2026.
Why it matters
The creation of this role reflects a broader shift toward centralized AI governance and internal adoption strategies within major professional services firms. It signals that AI strategy is moving from a experimental project to a core board-level responsibility.
Tareq Dreiza, who previously spent eight years at BP and served as a senior manager at EY, assumes the new role following a three-year stint as a partner at KPMG Middle East. The firm created this new executive role to formalize its internal and external AI governance.
The players
Tareq Dreiza
A seasoned executive and partner at KPMG Middle East with prior experience at BP, EY, and Amkor Technology.
KPMG Middle East
A regional professional services firm providing audit, tax, and advisory services to a broad base of international and local clients.
The details
KPMG Middle East is centralizing its artificial intelligence strategy by placing the new Chief AI Officer on its executive committee. This structure ensures that AI adoption, data trust, and regulatory compliance are weighed at the highest level of leadership. The appointment of Dreiza, who previously held IT director and senior manager positions at Amkor Technology and EY, highlights the firm's focus on integrating deep technical experience into its consulting operations.
Timeline
Tareq Dreiza returned to the firm in 2016.
Dreiza became a partner at the firm in July 2023.
Dreiza assumed the role of Chief AI Officer on October 9, 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment marks an expansion of the growing trend among global consultancies to elevate AI oversight from a functional department to a permanent executive committee mandate. It follows the industry-wide shift toward establishing formal governance for AI tools in advisory service delivery.
Operators should monitor how their service providers structure internal AI governance, as this dictates the standards for data privacy and security in outsourced projects. Consider auditing your own service contracts to ensure your consultants have clear lines of accountability for AI-generated outputs.
The takeaway
The move to formalize AI leadership signifies that AI governance is no longer just a technical concern but a core commercial risk management function. Business leaders should treat AI oversight as a standard criteria when evaluating the capabilities of their professional services partners.
Further reading
For more on shifting leadership roles and organizational restructuring, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ETHRWorld.
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