KPMG India promotes Sunil Badala as Head of Tax

• Head of Tax at KPMG India Rajeev Dimri (and ex-BMR Cofounder) has stepped down after almost 5 years.
• Sunil Badala will lead KPMG India’s Tax practice from February 1, 2025.
• He brings 27 years of expertise, including 9 years leading KPMG’s BFSI Tax practice.

KPMG India’s new Tax Head

Sunil Badala is no stranger to KPMG or the broader tax world.

He served as a partner at B S R & Co. for nearly 12 years before joining KPMG India as a Partner in 2019.

With a career spanning over 27 years, he’s been a cornerstone of KPMG’s BFSI Tax practice, a segment he has successfully led for the last nine years.

He is known for his exceptional client service and a knack for fostering collaboration.

Yezdi Nagporewalla, CEO of KPMG India said, “With his experience and expertise, our tax practice will continue to thrive and meaningfully evolve. He will have the full support of the India Leadership Team to drive the next phase of our Tax division’s growth.”

A farewell to Rajeev Dimri

Sunil succeeds Rajeev Dimri, who led KPMG India’s Tax division for over five years.

Rajeev’s tenure saw notable achievements, including integrating teams and clients from his previous stint at Deloitte.

While stepping down from his current role, Rajeev will continue to contribute strategically to KPMG.

BMR and Rajeev Dimri’s journey

To understand the depth of leadership transitions in tax advisory, we have to look back at BMR’s legacy.

BMR was founded in 2004 by ex-Arthur Andersen and EY leaders, Bobby Parikh, Mukesh Butani, and Rajeev Dimri. 

The firm operated with over 600 professionals in India. It was consistently rated amongst the top tax and M&A brands in India that challenged the status quo.

Until BMR hit a roadblock – with teams getting poached! Managing the complexity of size without the structure of a multinational firm proved to be challenging.

Fast forward to 2017, the co-founders decided to sell off!

BMR’s Tax practice led by Rajeev Dimri, with 22 partners and over 350 professionals, merged with Deloitte India.

Meanwhile, its M&A and risk advisory teams with 9 partners and over 100 professionals, joined KPMG India.

Deloitte to KPMG 

2020 Rajeev Dimri moved from Deloitte to KPMG!

With over 30 years of experience as a tax professional, Rajeev has handled a wide range of clients on direct and indirect tax areas along with advising on complex cross-border transactions.

Rajeev has worked extensively with multinational and large domestic companies to help organise businesses and establish business models and distribution structures.

He has deep experience with the travel & hospitality sector, the auto sector and the e-commerce business.

Big 4 India Tax leaders

As Sunil Badala takes the baton, he joins the ranks of India’s elite tax leaders, each steering massive operations in a fiercely competitive market:

• Sameer Gupta, National Leader, Tax, EY India: Under his leadership, EY’s tax division generated a whopping ₹1,900 crore in revenue, contributing to the firm’s overall dominance.
• Sanjay Tolia, Tax Leader, PwC India: With over two decades of experience, Sanjay has been a linchpin of PwC’s tax strategy.
• Gokul Chaudhri, Tax Leader, Deloitte India: Deep roots in BMR, Gokul continues to uphold Deloitte’s stronghold in Tax advisory.

Structure of KPMG’s tax practice

KPMG India’s Tax division consists of the following,

• Corporate and International Tax (CIT): Helping businesses navigate complex global tax landscapes.
• Transfer Pricing: Ensuring compliance and optimizing cross-border tax strategies.
• Indirect Tax: Expertise in GST and VAT compliance.
• Deal Advisory Tax: Providing tax efficiency in mergers and acquisitions.
• Global Mobility Services: Addressing the tax implications of a global workforce.
• Tax Technology and Automation: Innovating through digital solutions to enhance governance.

Wrapping up

KPMG India has had a respectable run in recent years, achieving 5.5-10% growth, with revenues reaching ₹5,900-6,200 crore (~$708 million to $744 million).

The firm is doubling down on technology, client service, and innovation, ensuring it remains at the forefront of tax advisory in India.

Sunil Badala now has the opportunity to leave his unique imprint on KPMG India’s tax division, solidifying its place in this competitive space.