OREANDA-NEWS. More than 50 of the world’s top industry analysts attended KPMG’s 2015 Global Analyst Day (#kpmgad) in New York City on 27 May, along with dozens of global leaders from across the network of member firms. The day-long event featured presentations, one-on-one sessions and demonstrations of new technology solutions and service-delivery methods, with KPMG speakers addressing topics in keeping with the day’s theme, “Innovation. Globally Executed.”

“By devoting a full day to this dialogue, KPMG had the unique opportunity to showcase our member firms’ latest capabilities and investments and increase our engagement with this important audience,” said Steve Hill, KPMG’s Global Head of Innovation and Investments. “As KPMG’s global capabilities continue to grow, it has done so in ways that may not be immediately obvious to this very important constituency. We used this day to challenge perceptions and illustrate our proficiency as a truly innovative and globally connected organization.”

Analysts from around the world heard directly from John Veihmeyer, Global Chairman, KPMG International along with US firm Chairman and CEO-elect, Lynne Doughtie , as well as other key leaders from across KPMG, including the Head of Global Advisory, Mark A. Goodburn, and National Managing Partner for Tax, Laura Newiski, all of whom spoke on KPMG’s vision for growth through innovation. Additionally, Doughtie introduced new capabilities such as Source, KPMG’s new global delivery backbone, and KPMG Spectrum, a new platform for asset-based client solutions.

Veihmeyer opened the morning session and spoke of KPMG’s innovative approach to serving clients in an environment of constant and dynamic change. Additionally, Veihmeyer focused on KPMG’s culture of innovation, led by professionals who work to ensure that member firms stays ahead of clients and the challenges they face. Veihmeyer described KPMG as being in “a constant state of investment,” in services and products both organically and inorganically.

Goodburn focused on efforts to build an organization of the future, detailing the added value of numerous recent acquisitions across an array of sectors, including Cyber, Alternative Investments, Tech Innovation and Data and Analytics. Goodburn also described the vision for KPMG Capital, and its utility in accelerating innovation in situations that require solutions in which neither organic investments nor outright acquisitions are appropriate. According to Goodburn, “KPMG Capital is actively investing in opportunities to accelerate innovation in data and analytics and bring solutions to the market faster.” Recently, KPMG announced three new strategic investments to bring to market data and analytics solutions for predictive financial sustainability modelling; integrity due diligence; and customer experience management.

Analysts also heard from Doughtie, who becomes Chairman and CEO of KPMG in the US on 1 July 2015. Doughtie discussed KPMG’s collaborative approach to serving clients, which enables them to benefit from the broad set of end-to-end capabilities and skills member firms offer, including expertise in helping companies prepare for future volatility and aligning their business and operating models with strategy. Doughtie also discussed KPMG’s efforts to optimize collaboration across services and highlighted the importance of tax technology with the US firm’s Tax National Managing Partner Laura Newinski.

While discussing KPMG Spectrum, Doughtie described how assets, referred to as “Intelligence Engines,” complement a traditional services approach by packaging KPMG’s most relevant intellectual property with advanced data and analytics to address client issues in ways previously not possible. Doughtie lauded the early success of KPMG Spectrum’s “Third Party Intelligence” engine, one of the first Intelligence Engines to be offered to the market. The Third Party Intelligence Engine helps clients see disruption in their third-party networks before it affects their businesses, allowing them to execute remedial or contingency plans quickly. Doughtie’s remarks preceded an afternoon demonstration of Third Party Intelligence.

Analysts also heard from Hill, who spoke about member firms’ approach to and governance of innovation. Hill stressed KPMG’s view of innovation as a business imperative and detailed newly-developed capabilities the network uses to help clients foster innovation within their businesses.

The afternoon’s breakout sessions focused on topics that included Business Transformation, Financial Services, Technology Enablement, Risk, Cyber, Strategy, and Change Management, and the event closed with a discussion with a KPMG client.