consultancy ERM, where he took the company through two rounds of private equity funding and grew the enterprise value from US$525 million to US$1.75 billion. The next month, PA bought London-based Sparkler, a leading digital insight and strategy consultancy that works with the likes of Microsoft, Diageo and Uber. By October 2018, the consultancy expanded its acquisitions into the United States, acquiring innovation strategy and product design business Essential Design. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the company has helped Woodford Reserve bourbon to strengthen its brand and designed the Hydrow connected home rowing machine. In December 2018, PA bought another London-based company, the digital service design and engineering agency We Are Friday. They brought with them high-profile digital clients like HSBC, Nuffield Health and the British Red Cross. In the same month, PA also announced it was appointing a new head of its Americas business, Ken Toombs, to drive rapid expansion in the United States. He brought 30 years’ experience in management consulting and moved to PA from his role as the Global Head of Infosys Consulting. Then, in June 2019, PA looked again to the US and acquired 4iNNo, an innovation company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. One year later, PA acquired San Francisco-based Astro Studios, a brand strategy and product design agency that works with the likes of Nike, Bose and Facebook. Most recently, in November 2020, PA acquired San Francisco- and Boston-based Cooper Perkins, a technology development and engineering company. The group announced Ken Toombs as CEO in October 2020, following on from Alan Middleton who stepped down after 13 years as CEO of the consultancy. In November 2020, PA’s Board announced its recommendation to accept a proposal by Jacobs Engineering Group to acquire a 65% stake in PA. Following a vote by PA shareholders and UK Court approval, the deal was finalised on 2 March 2021, valuing PA at £1.825 billion. Since 2021, PA has expanded and strengthened its leadership team. John Cala joined to lead PA’s business in the Americas, bringing experience from IBM and PwC. In 2022, PA appointed a new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer, and created new roles for a Chief Research Officer, Head of Alliances, Platforms and Products, and Head of Markets. Chartered Accountant Will Lambe joined as CFO, moving from KPMG, while Kelly Olsen joined as CIO, having previously served as CIO for the NHS Property Service and having been