Loading organizations...
GLG is a New York City-based expert network that connects corporate clients with industry professionals for qualitative and quantitative research, including surveys, focus groups, and specialized workshops. The organization operates as the world's largest expert network, generating approximately $589 million in annual revenue across its 20 international locations, including a major office in London. To facilitate these business insights, the company maintains a proprietary database of over 1,000,000 freelance consultants and employs a full-time workforce of more than 2,000 individuals. Under the leadership of CEO Paul Todd, the firm primarily serves a diverse client base of major Fortune 500 companies operating within the healthcare and technology sectors. GLG was originally established as a publishing company for investor reports before pivoting to its current consultation model, and was founded in 1998 by Mark Gerson and Thomas Lehrman.
Key people at GLG.
Key people at GLG.
GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) is the world's largest expert network, connecting decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies, top investment firms, banks, law firms, pharma companies, and consultancies with over 1.2 million experts for insights via phone/video calls, surveys, focus groups, events, and customized research.[1][3][4][7] Its mission centers on delivering first-hand expertise in a trusted, compliant environment to inform professional decisions across industries like technology, healthcare, industrials, consumer goods, financial services, and legal/regulatory affairs.[3][4][5][6] GLG's investment philosophy emphasizes rapid, precise expert matching, real-world insights at every investment cycle stage, and tailored services like channel checks, due diligence, and risk management, powering conviction for clients including hedge funds, private equity, and mutual funds.[4][5][6] With 2,000+ employees across 20+ global offices, it generated $589 million in revenue, significantly impacting the startup and investment ecosystem by providing primary market intelligence that accelerates deal-making, portfolio monitoring, and innovation scouting.[3][4]
Founded in 1998 in New York City by Lawrence Gerson and Mark Lehrman as a publishing company delivering sector-specific investor reports focused on healthcare and technology, GLG quickly pivoted to expert consultations.[1][2][3] Key early expansions included branching into energy/industrials in 2002, opening its first U.S.-wide and international office in London in 2003, and adding practices in legal, economic, and regulatory affairs.[1][2] Pivotal moments featured Bessemer Venture Partners' $30 million investment in 2004 for U.S. growth and compliance tech; Alexander Saint-Amand as CEO in 2005 with Asia offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, India, and Singapore; Silver Lake's $200 million infusion in 2008 (valuing GLG at $875 million); SFW Capital's $212 million in 2010; and a failed 2021 IPO withdrawn in 2022 amid market conditions.[1][2] By 2017, its expert network hit 425,000+; 2023 marked its 25th anniversary with Gemma Postlethwaite as CEO (current leader, though some sources note Paul Todd), emphasizing client innovation; recent moves include 2022 offices in Munich/Barcelona and a 2024 ransomware incident exposing data risks.[2][3][4]
GLG rides the explosive demand for primary, real-time insights in a data-saturated world, where AI-driven decisions and volatile markets amplify the need for human expertise over secondary research.[2][5][7] Timing is ideal amid rising private equity, hedge fund activity, and tech/biotech innovation, as firms seek channel checks, due diligence, and trend validation to navigate risks like regulatory shifts or market disruptions.[1][5][6] Market forces favoring GLG include globalization (Asia/Europe expansion), digitization of research (virtual calls, platforms), and post-COVID remote insights; it influences the ecosystem by democratizing elite expertise, fueling startup funding via investor conviction, and enabling faster M&A/tech investments—e.g., RPA analysis for hedge funds.[2][4][5] In tech-heavy sectors, GLG bridges gaps in emerging fields like RPA, pharma, and fintech, shaping outcomes for ecosystems reliant on informed capital allocation.[3][6]
GLG's dominance positions it to capitalize on AI-augmented insights, deeper platform integrations, and expanding non-financial verticals like sustainability and geopolitics, potentially rebounding from 2024's ransomware setback with enhanced cybersecurity.[2][7] Trends like real-time data demands from quant funds, regulatory scrutiny, and global decentralization will shape its path, evolving its influence toward hybrid human-AI networks that redefine decision-making speed and accuracy. As the insight backbone for elite investors, GLG remains pivotal in turning expert clarity into market-moving action, solidifying its role as the go-to for conviction in uncertain times.[4][8]
