The KPMG International network was formed in 1987 when Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler merged along with their respective member firms.

Principal founding members
There were four key figures in the formation of KPMG. They are the founding members of the present organization.

Klynveld
Piet Klynveld founded the accounting firm Klynveld Kraayenhof & Co in Amsterdam in 1917.

Peat
William Barclay Peat founded the accounting firm Peat & Co in London.

Marwick
James Marwick established the accounting firm Marwick, Mitchell & Co in New York City in 1897.

Goerdeler
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.

In Canada, the firm's roots go back to 1869. Since that date, more than 115 predecessor firms in communities across the country have joined forces to create what is now KPMG LLP (Canada).