Accountancy group KPMG Nederland has appointed Bernard Wientjes, former head of employers’ association VNO-NCW, to its new supervisory board.

The move is part of KPMG’s attempt to win back the confidence of shareholders following a string of scandals last year, which culminated in the resignation of its chairman.

The group now wants to boost the independence of its supervisory board by bringing in external candidates. Former VVD MP Laetitia Griffith, Steven van Shilfgaarde of the KPN pension fund and former shareholders’ lobby group director Jan Maarten Slagter have already been appointed. A fifth member will be announced in the summer, the company told the Financieele Dagblad.

KPMG is also overhauling its remuneration strategy for partners. The current bonus system is being scrapped and individual partners will only be rewarded for ‘exceptional performance’. The management board will no longer be eligible for profit sharing. Instead, they will have a fixed salary with a performance-related bonus of up to 10%.

The reform of supervisory boards is also part of the reforms introduced last year for the financial sector and KPMG is the first company to announce the names of its new members.