There were four key figures in the formation of KPMG. They are the founding members of the present organization.
Piet Klynveld founded the accounting firm Klynveld Kraayenhof & Co in Amsterdam in 1917.
William Barclay Peat founded the accounting firm Peat & Co in London.
James Marwick established the accounting firm Marwick, Mitchell & Co in New York City in 1897.
Dr. Reinhard Goerdeler was the first president of the International Federation of Accountants and a chairman of KPMG. He is credited with laying the foundations of the Klynveld Main Goerdeler merger.