KPMG Canada names Ali Jaffery as chief economist

KPMG Canada has hired Ali Jaffery as its first chief economist, effective April 1, 2026.

In the newly created role, Jaffery will lead the economic advisory services practice – developing and executing economic research programs on issues such as trade, productivity, and competitiveness. He will also work across the firm to embed economic insight into client solutions to help leaders make informed decisions grounded in economic data.

“Canada is at a pivotal moment as it works to build a more resilient economy. Appointing Ali Jaffery as Chief Economist strengthens KPMG’s ability to help Canadian organizations understand how the economy is shifting, what it means for them, and how to proactively respond with confidence in an increasingly complex environment,” said Benjie Thomas, CEO and senior partner of KPMG Canada.

Jaffery joins KPMG as a partner in Ottawa, bringing more than 15 years of experience as an economist in the private and public sectors. He previously spent nearly three years as an executive director and senior economist at CIBC Capital Markets, and before that spent five years with the Bank of Canada, where he was principal economist in the international department.

Earlier in his career, he was an economist at Qatar National Bank, one of the Middle East’s largest private banks. Jaffery began his career as an economist at Canada’s Treasury Board Secretariat and Department of Finance.

He holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto, a master’s degree in public administration from Queen’s University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from McMaster University.

“Having worked across government, central banking and capital markets, I’ve seen how quickly economic conditions and policy responses can change – and how important clear, practical insight is in moments of uncertainty,” said Jaffery. “KPMG Canada has an established track record as a trusted advisor to Canadian organizations, and I’m looking forward to working with teams across the country to help clients cut through noise, manage geopolitical and economic disruption, and make decisions that strengthen their productivity, resilience and competitiveness.”

KPMG also recently named Andrew Forde as its first head of AI research.