Ron Walker, Head of Global Managed Services at KPMG, sits down with Phil Fersht to unpack how AI is reshaping services—and why enterprise leaders can’t afford to wait.  

They explore the “Kodak moment” facing traditional tech firms, the critical shift from vendor to value partner, and why platform-enabled services are rewriting the outsourcing playbook. This is not your typical vendor chat—Ron gets candid about contracts, cost pressures, talent strategy, and the rise of agentic delivery models. 

If you’ve ever asked, “Where is this all going?” — this episode answers it. 

What You’ll Hear in 30 Minutes 

• Why AI is forcing enterprises to rethink their entire services stack 

• How geopolitical volatility is accelerating automation investments 

• The rise of agentic delivery—and what it means for your contracts 

• Why smart, curious generalists will define the next wave of talent 

• The one thing every enterprise must do right now 

Guest Snapshots 

Ron Walker is the Global Head of Managed Services at KPMG, where he leads the firm’s vision for reinventing managed services in the AI era. With deep roots in consulting, outsourcing, and global transformation, Ron is at the forefront of building outcome-based delivery models that blend human expertise with intelligent automation. 

A trusted advisor to Fortune 1000 enterprises, Ron is passionate about aligning tech, talent, and trust to meet the demands of a volatile, high-speed digital economy. 

Timestamps 

00:00 – Welcome and Backstory 

01:05 – How Trade Volatility Is Reshaping Global Services 

02:50 – 83% of Enterprises Are Accelerating AI—What That Really Means 

05:16 – From Talent at Scale to AI at Scale 

07:30 – Machines Now Outperform Humans—Where Does That Leave Us? 

08:52 – Reinventing Contracts for an Agentic Future 

10:40 – The New Economics of Outsourcing 

12:33 – Why Service Providers Must Become Educators 

14:57 – KPMG’s Hybrid Model: Productization + Partnership 

16:40 – Redefining Talent for a Platform-Enabled World 

19:03 – Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the Next Phase of Work 

22:40 – Ron’s One Piece of Advice for Enterprise Leaders 

24:13 – Will We See a New Wave of Transformational Outsourcing? 

25:32 – The Big Four + Scalers: Why Collaboration Is Key 

Explore More

• Ron Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwalkerkpmg/

• KPMG’s AI Thought Leadership: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights.html

• Phil Fersht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfersht/

• More from HFS on Agentic AI: https://www.hfsresearch.com/