The chairman of scandal-hit KPMG Nederlands resigned on Monday, stating it was in the interests of the company to do so.

Jurgen van Breukelen had been in the firing line over possible tax fraud in connection with the company’s new headquarters in Amstelveen, bribery allegations and a string of other issues at client companies.

In a statement, Van Breukelen said it was in the ‘company’s interests’ that he resign.

‘The interests of our clients, our employees and our firm must be our first priority. Those interests have been damaged and need to be restored,’ he said. ‘I have said from the beginning that KPMG has to make major changes. We have made a solid start on those changes, but we still have a long way to go.’

KPMG needs to give a clear signal that it is breaking with the recent past of misjudgments and errors, he said. ‘It is then up to me as the person ultimately responsible to reinforce that signal.’