EXCLUSIVE:
A successful KPMG partner whose body was found in a national park seemed to have it all. He was married to a successful lawyer, with whom he had a young daughter, and lived in a multimillion-dollar home.
David Ibels, 43, was last seen in the early hours of Saturday morning near the Mount Tamborine area, south of Brisbane.
His Porsche Cayenne station wagon was found near Springbrook National Park on Sunday, prompting a desperate and thorough search of the area.
In a grim coincidence, rescue crews on Monday first came across the body of 75-year-old William Marshall, who was last seen on July 10 at his home in Thornlands, on the outskirts of Brisbane.
Rescue teams, including police, two crews from Queensland Fire and Emergency and about twenty KPMG employees, found Mr Ibels’ body at around 2pm that same day.
David Ibels (right) was a valued partner at KPMG. He went missing on Saturday and his body was found on Monday
David Ibels was married to commercial lawyer Anastasia Nicholas (photo). They lived with their daughter in New Farm
The two men did not know each other and police are not treating either death as suspicious.
Mr Ibels lived with his wife Anastasia Nicholas and their daughter in a $3.6 million home in New Farm, on the outskirts of Brisbane.
They moved into the five-bedroom mansion in 2021, after selling their three-bedroom home in nearby Teneriffe for $2.5 million.
He was a valued member of KPMG, nicknamed ‘Dibes’ and many of his colleagues were shocked to hear of his death.
‘A sad day for everyone who knew Dibes. I was devastated when I heard this news,” a former colleague wrote on LinkedIn.
Another friend said on Facebook: ‘A very sad few days. What a wonderful support network of friends, colleagues and the KPMG community.”
“If you are ever struggling or just need a listening ear, reach out to family, friends, a stranger, or a professional in the field.”
Last Wednesday, Mr. Ibels responded to a friend’s LinkedIn post to congratulate her on landing a new job.
‘Congratulations Maddy!! Fantastic role and opportunity. Enjoy and best wishes,” he wrote.
Three days later he disappeared.
Pictured: William Marshall, 75, last seen July 10. The police came across his body during a search for Mr Ibels
Friends and colleagues were shocked to hear that Mr Ibels (pictured when he was younger) had died
Mr Ibels’ colleagues praised him and the CEO of KPMG called his death a great loss
He attended the Shore School in North Sydney, a prestigious school that now costs up to $40,000 a year, and studied a Bachelor of Information Technology at the University of Technology between 1999 and 2001.
His success began the following year when he was given the role of managing consultant at Capgemini Invent, a business consultancy firm.
Mr Ibels subsequently became a director at Barclays Wealth in London, before moving to KPMG in 2011.
Over the past three years, Mr Ibels has been a key figure in the development of KPMG Australia’s $800 million headquarters in Brisbane at Heritage Lanes.
Developed by real estate giant Mirvac, the building is powered by renewable electricity and has net-zero carbon emissions.
Just a month ago, Mr. Ibels proudly posted about the achievement on LinkedIn.
“Roll out the blue carpet… Several years of hard work culminated this week in the opening of KPMG Australia’s new headquarters in Brisbane at Heritage Lanes,” he wrote.
David Ibels celebrates his 70th birthday in the photo. His body was found on Monday
It is understood that Mr Ibels’ black 2015 Porsche Cayenne station wagon was found on Sunday
“This is a great place to work with exceptional amenities for our employees and customers to connect, collaborate, grow and make a significant impact.”
KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: “It’s an incredibly sad day, losing a great partner and friend.”
“David was an incredible person, a great partner, and so focused on our people.
‘He was an extraordinary person, which made this news so difficult to accept. All our thoughts are with David’s family.
“His loss will be felt by many, not just within our firm, but more broadly among our clients and the Queensland community.”
On Sunday, the day after Mr Ibels was last seen, a close friend asked Mount Tamborine locals on Facebook to keep an eye out.
“We are very concerned for his well-being and would like your assistance in locating him,” he wrote.
“This has been reported to local police, but we would like your community’s help in finding him.”
‘His wife and young daughter are very concerned and would like to speak to him.’
In a statement shared via Queensland Police on Sunday morning, Mr Ibels’ family said they were “concerned for his welfare as his behavior is out of character”.
Reports will be prepared for the coroner for Mr Ibels and Mr Marshall.
If you or someone you know needs mental health care, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
