LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2025--
Acuity Knowledge Partners (Acuity), a leading provider of bespoke research, analytics, talent and technology solutions to the financial services industry, announced today the appointment of Kelvin Cheema as Managing Director, Global Transformation & Change and Interim Global Chief Information Officer.
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Kelvin is tasked with driving technology leadership, an ambitious, company-wide digital transformation initiative that integrates cutting-edge technologies and data-driven decision-making processes across the organisation.
In this pivotal role, Kelvin will lead Acuity’s strategic technological advancement, ensuring seamless integration of technology, data and operations to enhance client outcomes and operational efficiency. His leadership is anticipated to be instrumental in leveraging artificial intelligence and automated solutions to refine business processes, and bolster risk management frameworks.
“Kelvin’s joining marks a significant evolution in our strategic direction,” remarked Ian Mullen, Chief Financial Officer, Acuity Knowledge Partners. “His deep expertise in orchestrating global transformations and his visionary approach are critical as we navigate through this era of digital acceleration. Acuity is at a critical juncture; our ability to harness data, insights, and automation will differentiate us and drive sustainable growth. We are confident that Kelvin’s leadership will be pivotal in fostering innovation and making informed, strategic decisions for our clients globally.”
Kelvin brings over two decades of experience in driving transformation across a spectrum of industries, including prominent stints at the Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Kingfisher, Convatec Group, Heathrow Airport Holdings, Domino’s Pizza and the Big 4 management consulting firms. Kelvin is an alumnus of Oxford Business School and INSEAD.
“By consolidating our capabilities in IT, HR, M&A, Sales, Delivery, and all enablement supporting teams into a cohesive, insight-driven framework, we are positioning Acuity for sustained growth, agility, and impactful market presence,” stated Kelvin. “I am eager to advance our transformation agenda to further strengthen Acuity as the foremost data, analytics, and AI-led technology solution provider to global financial customers.”
In this new role, Kelvin will spearhead a global portfolio of enterprise-wide business and technology transformative initiatives, boosting data-driven intelligence, AI innovation and M&A integration.
About Acuity Knowledge Partners:
Acuity Knowledge Partners (Acuity) is a leading provider of bespoke research, data management, analytics, talent, and technology solutions to the financial services industry, including asset managers, corporate and investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds and consulting firms. Its global network of over 6,000 analysts and industry experts, combined with proprietary technology, supports more than 650 financial institutions and consulting companies to operate more efficiently and unlock their human capital and transforming operations. Acuity is headquartered in London and operates from 16 locations worldwide. Acuity was established as a separate business from Moody’s Corporation in 2019, following its acquisition by Equistone Partners Europe (Equistone). In January 2023, funds advised by global private equity firm Permira acquired a majority stake in the business from Equistone, which remains invested as a minority shareholder.
For further information, please visit www.acuitykp.com.
Kelvin Cheema, Managing Director, Global Transformation & Change and Interim Global CIO, Acuity Knowledge Partners
DETROIT (AP) — Sixteen states and the District of Columbia are suing the Trump administration for what they say is the unlawful withholding of over $2 billion in funding for two electric vehicle charging programs.
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Seattle is the latest legal battle that Democratic-led states are pursuing over funding for EV charging infrastructure that they say was obligated to them by Congress under former President Joe Biden, but that the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are “impounding.”
“The Trump administration’s illegal attempt to stop funding for electric vehicle infrastructure must come to an end,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a release. “This is just another reckless attempt that will stall the fight against air pollution and climate change, slow innovation, thwart green job creation, and leave communities without access to clean, affordable transportation."
President Donald Trump's administration has been hostile to EVs and has dismantled several Biden-era policies friendly to cleaner cars and trucks in favor of policies that align with Trump’s oil and gas industry agenda.
Transportation Department officials did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The Trump administration in February ordered states to halt spending money for EV charging that was allocated in the bipartisan infrastructure law passed under the previous administration.
Several states filed a lawsuit in May against the administration for withholding the funding from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program for a nationwide charging buildout. A federal judge later ordered the administration to release much of the funding for chargers in more than a dozen states.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later issued revised guidance intended to streamline funding applications for states and make charger deployment more efficient. At least four states — Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin — have announced awards under the vehicle infrastructure program, according to Loren McDonald, chief analyst at EV data firm Chargeonomics, who tracks the state awards.
Tuesday's separate lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, addresses withholding of funds for two other programs: $1.8 billion for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant program, as well as about $350 million for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program.
The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from California and Colorado, joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia, and the governor of Pennsylvania. All are Democrats.
After returning to office in January, Trump immediately ordered an end to what he has called Biden's “EV mandate.” While Biden targeted for half of new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric by 2030, his policies did not force American consumers to buy EVs or automakers to sell them.
Biden did set stringent tailpipe emissions and fuel economy rules in an effort to encourage more widespread EV adoption, as the auto industry would have had to meet both sets of requirements with a greater number of EVs in their sales mix. Under the Biden administration, consumers could also receive up to $7,500 in tax incentives off the price of an EV purchase, a program that congressional Republicans ended last fall.
The Trump administration has proposed rolling back both tailpipe emissions rules and the gas mileage standards and eliminated fines to automakers for not meeting those standards.
Trump has also repeated incorrect information about the status of the federal charging programs; without all of the funds available, only a fraction of what was obligated has been spent so far.
“We had to have an electric car within a very short period of time, even though there was no way of charging them and lots of other things,” Trump said in a Dec. 3 press conference about the proposed weakened fuel economy rules. “In certain parts of the Midwest, they spent -- to build nine chargers they spent $8 billion. So, that wasn’t working out too well.”
The lawsuit comes amid those regulatory changes and as the pace of EV sales have slowed in the U.S. as mainstream buyers remain concerned about both charging availability and the price of the vehicles.
New EVs sold for an average of $58,638 last month, compared with $49,814 for a new vehicle overall, according to auto buying resource Kelley Blue Book.
Automakers, meanwhile, have responded to consumers accordingly.
Earlier this week, Ford Motor Co. announced it was pivoting away from its once-ambitious, multi-billion dollar electrification strategy in lieu of more hybrid-electric and more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles.
In the spring, Honda Motor Co. also said it would take a significant step back from its EV efforts.
Associated Press writer Matthew Daly in Washington contributed to this report.
Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.
Read more of AP’s climate coverage.
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at the Department of Transportation in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
