'It is shocking to us a member of the KPMG family would do something so despicable and cowardly to another member of our family'
KPMG New Zealand has launched an internal investigation following suspected drink-spiking at two separate work events.
It’s believed the functions happened at KPMG premises and NZ executive chair Matt Prichard is reported as saying the actions of a “grubby little coward” are “despicable and cowardly”. He told the NZ Herald the incidents have left him angry and shocked.
In an email to staff obtained by Stuff, Prichard said the first incident happened last month and was of “serious concern”. As a result, the company had hired a security guard for the drinks event last week, which was one of the firm’s monthly Auckland Partners’ functions. Unfortunately, this didn’t prevent a second incident and the person impacted had been driven home safely by one of the organisation’s partners.
Prichard is reported as saying KPMG will reconsider whether the events would continue to be held and would now install additional cameras on the first-floor events space.
"It is shocking to us a member of the KPMG family would do something so despicable and cowardly to another member of our family and, while we are currently focused on our affected team members, we want to minimise the risk of this ever happening again," Stuff reports his email to staff reading.
According to Stuff, Prichard also wrote in his email: “We expected these measures, combined with the policies we have in place to ensure we’re responsible hosts, including ensuring one drink per person per bar visit – with no drink stacking, would be effective. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough, and we are reviewing our approach to these events.”
Prichard said the incidents have been reported to police and that internal investigations would continue.
In a statement to Newshub, he said KPMG has “three priorities” including looking after the people affected and ensuring they have support, identifying the person responsible through a thorough investigation, and reviewing whether large events of the kind at which the incidents took place should continue.
