The Financial Times reported this afternoon that Bill Michael, chairman of the Queen’s KPMG, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been hospitalized.

Mr Michael, who took over the Big Four accounting and advisory firm in 2017, has been in hospital for one week after becoming unwell but was only diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus on Friday. KPMG informed its 620 UK partners earlier this month that Mr Michael was unwell and was unable to work, but he had not yet been tested for Covid-19. Melanie Richards, deputy chair of KPMG UK, and Tim Jones, chief operating officer, have been managing the day-to-day running of the firm in his absence.

Michael had let the firm’s partners know on March 15 that he was self-isolating for a week after running a fever for a few days, according to FT:

“I have no other symptoms but it’s important that everyone, starting with me, follows the government’s guidance on what to do if you feel unwell. Our deputy chair, Melanie Richards will take care of any important decisions and she and I will be in touch throughout this time.”

KPMG chair Bill Michael hospitalised with coronavirus [Financial Times]