James is one of Australia’s leading restructuring experts and has practised in corporate restructuring and strategic consulting for more than 35 years. He is highly regarded as a strategic thinker and is a frequent public commentator on digital disruption, changes in consumer behaviour and the impact on retail models where his knowledge and experience is unique.
James has a particular interest in stakeholder and crisis management and in 2018, he completed an executive management course with INSEAD on leadership and organisational change.
In June 2019, James joined KPMG as a Partner and Joint National Leader of Restructuring Services following the firm's merger with Ferrier Hodgson. James was a member of KPMG Australia's National Board from July 2020 to July 2022.
In 1994, James became a Partner of Ferrier Hodgson. He later became the Managing Partner of KPMG Australia’s Melbourne office as well as the firm’s National Retail Practice Leader, and ultimately, National Chairman of Partners.
Areas of expertise
Industries
2 April 2025
The uncertainty over an escalating trade war, and other economic indicators and prevailing risk factors led the RBA to leave interest rates on hold.
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25 September 2024
In the next KPMG’s Private Insights Webinar Series, to be held on Thursday 26 September, Gayle Dickerson and James Stewart discuss the current key retail megatrends, what is making local trading conditions so difficult and how businesses can respond.
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4 July 2024
Many retailers are discounting to drive sales and cashflow, and considering the most recent inflation figures, we expect these challenging conditions to continue for the rest of the year, as discussed by Brendan Rynne and James Stewart.
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1 March 2024
We appear likely to be entering a sustained period of modest growth for retailers, which will increase the focus on margin management as consumer caution continues, write Brendan Rynne and James Stewart.
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29 November 2023
Despite October’s slowdown in spending, over the longer-term horizon, spending has held up relatively well with retail trade rising over the last year, writes Brendan Rynne and James Stewart.
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22 February 2023
As retailers recover from the pandemic and the economy slows, Australia remains well placed for the year ahead – are you future fit?
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21 February 2023
2023 presents a new and complex paradigm for Australian businesses as the world risks entering a state of permanent geopolitical volatility, writes Jon Berry and James Stewart.
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1 February 2022
The Distance to Default (D2D) score serves as a useful metric for benchmarking company performance across different industries.
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9 December 2021
Industry news, regulatory updates, and business insights - help us better meet your content needs
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7 December 2021
As detailed by James Stewart & Peter Marczenko, 70 percent of survey participants believe that supply chain issues will mean increased costs for consumers as businesses are forced to raise prices to offset higher transport costs.
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11 November 2021
KPMG's submission in relation to Treasury’s consultation on improving schemes of arrangements to better support insolvent companies.
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5 November 2021
KPMG's submission to Treasury focuses on recommendations to improve take-up and awareness of the insolvent trading ‘Safe Harbour’.
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22 July 2021
The Distance to Default (D2D) score serves as a useful metric for benchmarking company performance across different industries.
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11 March 2021
A number of economic support measures have been announced for businesses, as the economy transitions from the Federal Government’s wage subsidy.
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30 July 2020
JobKeeper 2.0 will likely increase the pressure on some businesses who know that they will soon no longer qualify, write James Stewart and Matthew Woods.
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2 April 2025
The uncertainty over an escalating trade war, and other economic indicators and prevailing risk factors led the RBA to leave interest rates on hold.
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27 March 2025
With the retail industry facing significant challenges, KPMG International’s analysis reveals that major shifts in valuations, due diligence, and post-merger integration are on the horizon.
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20 March 2025
KPMG’s indicator of the health of Australia’s retail sector continues to trend towards the light, though retailers are not out of the woods.
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27 February 2025
James Stewart discusses how retailers are using AI successfully to drive better customer experiences.
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20 February 2025
KPMG's Consumer & Retail National Leader James Stewart discusses international trends in seamless commerce.
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13 February 2025
James Stewart provides key takeaways from KPMG Australia's annual Customer Experience Excellence report.
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13 February 2025
The latest Australian Retail Outlook presents retail sector trends and insights for 2025, including digital evolution, customer experience, sustainability and supply chain optimisation.
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6 February 2025
KPMG’s Australian Customer Experience Excellence report 2024 explores how leading organisations are using AI and human ingenuity to power Customer Experience Excellence within Australia.
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12 December 2024
While there are signs of potential recovery and momentum, the overall outlook for the retail sector remains cautious with continued challenges and slow growth in discretionary spending.
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27 November 2024
KPMG Turnaround and Restructuring Partner James Stewart and KPMG Australia's Head of FinTech Daniel Teper discuss the Australian FinTech sector, particularly as investments continue to lag historical averages and trend downwards.
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14 November 2024
September’s KPMG Private Insights Webinar Series discusses the current key retail megatrends, what is making local trading conditions so difficult and how businesses can respond.
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13 September 2024
Higher producer prices and worsened consumer sentiment has pushed back expectations of a full recovery in the retail to end-2025, writes James Stewart, Lisa Bora, and Brendan Rynne.
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12 September 2024
In the next KPMG’s Private Insights Webinar Series, to be held on Thursday 26 September, Gayle Dickerson and James Stewart discuss the current key retail megatrends, what is making local trading conditions so difficult and how businesses can respond.
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4 September 2024
James Stewart is joined by Merriden Varrall and Helen Zhi Dent, to discuss the three 'pebbles' that are impacting the global economic 'pond'.
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18 July 2024
Gayle Dickerson, along with James Stewart, discuss some of the current key retail megatrends, what is making local trading conditions so difficult and how businesses can respond.
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4 July 2024
Many retailers are discounting to drive sales and cashflow, and considering the most recent inflation figures, we expect these challenging conditions to continue for the rest of the year, as discussed by Brendan Rynne and James Stewart.
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14 June 2024
The latest edition of KPMG Australia’s Retail Health Index shows only a minor improvement in key indices, suggesting healthy retail conditions to return in September 2025.
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14 June 2024
The era of seamless commerce has arrived, and this report shines a light on the convergence and profound local and cultural differences in attitudes towards seamless commerce across 14 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
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3 June 2024
This webinar recording discusses the three “pebbles” that are impacting the global economic “pond”, and how Australian businesses could respond to it.
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30 May 2024
April's sluggish retail figures reflect a cautious mood among consumers. Brendan Rynne and James Stewart discuss the factors at play behind the latest retail numbers.
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23 May 2024
KPMG's latest retail webinar discusses the trends, challenges and opportunities facing the retail sector including generative AI with 7-Eleven CEO Angus McKay.
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9 May 2024
Join this webinar special where KPMG’s T&R team discusses the three “pebbles” that are impacting the global economic “pond”, and how Australian businesses could respond to it.
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2 May 2024
James Stewart is joined by Georgie Aley to discuss how organisations are eliminating cost, beyond the reduction of employee headcounts, and creating opportunities to find long-term efficiencies and drive productivity.
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2 May 2024
Geopolitical volatility is emerging as a major challenge for Australian retailers and understanding geopolitical risks will help the retail industry plan and adapt.
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24 April 2024
Australia, along with many retail markets across the globe find themselves in a highly uncertain retail environment as inflation, reduced consumer sentiment, and high post-pandemic inventories threaten to sink their prospects.
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11 April 2024
The third edition of KPMG Australia’s Retail Health Index shows an improvement in the health of the retail sector, but weak discretionary spending and consumer confidence suggests that market conditions may not recover till mid-2025.
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11 April 2024
Join the KPMG T&R team in this upcoming webinar where we discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the retail sector with 7-Eleven CEO Angus McKay.
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14 March 2024
In the last instalment of this three-part series on cost cutting and business restructuring in various situations, we discuss cost cutting and restructuring for value improvement.
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14 March 2024
Tomorrow’s consumers expect retailers to meet them where they are – online, in-store and on social media – and deliver the same experience regardless. This report explores how retailers can meet that demand through developing seamless, connected capabilities in their organisation.
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29 February 2024
The latest Australian Retail Outlook report presents the key trends and insights for the retail sector in 2024, as well as ways to build a resilient, profitable future, with sustainable growth.
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