Brands
Seiko is the new watch partner of Novak Djokovic
MUMBAI: On the eve of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Seiko launched its new partnership with Novak Djokovic. Shinji Hattori, President of Seiko Watch Corporation, is proud to announce the agreement in person and to present to Novak a Seiko Astron GPS Solar watch as a symbol of this global three year partnership.
Seiko and Novak: a perfect match
We choose to believe that Seiko is, today, a real leader in watchmaking. We invented the quartz watch in 1969, we invented the Kinetic watch in 1988 and just two years ago we invented Astron GPS Solar, a watch that, using only the power of light, connects to the GPS network. In summary, we strive for perfection in watchmaking; we always have and we always will. When Kintaro Hattori founded the company in 1881, he was determined that Seiko should be ‘‘always one step ahead of the rest’’, and we live today by this creed.
This is why, when the opportunity to work with Novak Djokovic arose, we welcomed it immediately. In Novak, we see someone who shares our desire to be the best and who is determined to maintain his status as a leader. Like Seiko, Novak is dedicated to perfection. And like Novak, Seiko is determined to be “one step ahead of the rest”.
A watch for every aspect of Novak’s life
We are delighted that Novak selected Seiko and we are honoured and proud to be his partner for the next three years. We admire Novak as a player, of course, but we also admire him as a person who has a rich range of interests and a very varied lifestyle.
We cannot help Novak win tennis matches, but we can help him manage time in every other aspect of his life. We have created a series of watches that Novak will be wearing in 2014; each selected to suit the different aspects of Novak’s life. When he is training, Novak will wear a watch he has selected from our Sportura chronograph collection. When he is at an evening function, Novak will wear a Premier Kinetic Perpetual watch. When he is away from the tennis world and enjoying his passion for adventure sports, it will be a Seiko Divers watch that accompanies him. Lastly, and most importantly for us and for Novak, whose global schedule is so hectic, when he is travelling, Novak will wear the Astron GPS Solar watch that uses the GPS network and the power of light to adjust to each and every time zone on earth.
Novak, Seiko and the environment
Novak’s 2014 watch collection highlights another aspect of the partnership that is important for both Novak and Seiko. We both share a passion for the preservation of our environment and Novak’s choice of watch reflects this. Astron uses just the power of light, the Sportura chronograph is powered by a mercury free battery that Seiko makes itself and the Divers and Premier watches are powered by Seiko’s unique ‘no battery change’ technology.
Thanks to Seiko’s leadership in green watchmaking, Novak’s love of, and respect for, the natural world is reflected in his watch collection.
Seiko and the Novak Djokovic Foundation
The Novak Djokovic Foundation commands our respect and admiration through its hard and important work with disadvantaged children. Seiko is pleased to support the Foundation and its activities financially, but the most important way in which we can make a difference is by helping Novak to promote the Foundation around the world. To do so, we have created an accessibly priced watch collection for young people that will carry the Foundation name and message. These watches are to be sold under our LORUS brand name and will be available in watch specialist retail stores in many markets worldwide from September, 2014 onwards.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
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MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
