KPMG has fired one of its most senior executives with immediate effect, after a core whistleblower allegation concerning confidential customer data was confirmed to be true.

Former KPMG board member and partner Kim Lawry has been accused of bullying and defaming the whistleblower who later triggered an existential crisis at the firm.

The firm’s furious new chief executive John Sams told a hastily convened call that the former chief operating officer Eileen Hoggett would be expelled entirely.