Gerson Lehrman Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consulting, Financial services, Information services |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Mark Gerson, Thomas Lehrman |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Paul Todd (CEO) |
| Products | Expert insights, Financial data, Consulting services |
| Owner | Silver Lake Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, SFW Capital Partners |
Number of employees | 3000+ (2021) |
| Website | glginsights |
GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc.) is a consulting firm specializing in financial and global information services, with its main office located in New York City. The company delivers expert insights and financial data to investors and consulting professionals. Recognized as the largest expert network worldwide, GLG connects its clients to a pool exceeding 1,000,000 independent consultants. This network includes asset managers, investors, consultants, medical doctors, scientists, engineers, attorneys, senior current and former c-level executives, as well as ex-government officials. Its clientele comprises strategy consulting firms, hedge funds, private equity entities, professional service providers, and nonprofit organizations.
Established in 1998 by Mark Gerson and Thomas Lehrman, GLG has attracted investment from private equity firms including Silver Lake Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and SFW Capital Partners. The company generated $650 million in revenue in 2021 and employs more than 3,000 individuals worldwide. Operating from its headquarters in New York, GLG maintains offices in 22 cities across 12 countries.
History
The inception of Gerson Lehrman Group dates back to 1998 when Yale Law School alumni Mark Gerson and Thomas Lehrman founded the company. Shortly thereafter, Alexander Saint-Amand, previously a Bloomberg journalist, joined the team and led as President & CEO until 2018.
Initially supported by capital from friends and family, GLG started as a publisher focused on creating industry guidebooks tailored for institutional investors. However, demand quickly shifted towards direct interactions with experts rather than reliance on written materials. By 1999, the company transitioned to providing subscriptions granting access to its expert network.
Between 1999 and 2005, GLG primarily served investors as its main customer base. In 2006, it broadened its reach to include strategy consulting and sectors such as life sciences, chemicals, industrials, and technology. By 2010, The Wall Street Journal characterized GLG as the dominant force within the U.S. expert networking market.
The expert network business model has attracted regulatory attention related to disclosure obligations and potential insider trading concerns. To address these issues, GLG implements rigorous policies that forbid consultants from divulging confidential information or breaching legal and ethical guidelines.
In 2018, Paul Todd—previously leading eBay’s EMEA operations—was named CEO of GLG.
Additionally, GLG manages a Social Impact Fellowship program that offers pro bono expertise to selected nonprofit organizations.
The company filed for an initial public offering in October 2021 but retracted the filing in March 2022.
Further reading
- "Linking expert mouths with eager ears", The Economist, June 16, 2011.