Related: PR Firms Directory · Industry Leaders · PR Agency Profiles Directory · Crisis Communications
Updated: June 3, 2026.
FGS Global is the leading global strategic advisory and communications consultancy specializing in financial, corporate, crisis, and public affairs communications. Formed in December 2021 through the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering and Sard Verbinnen & Co., the firm was created by combining four storied predecessor firms — Finsbury (UK), The Glover Park Group (U.S. public affairs), Hering Schuppener (Germany), and Sard Verbinnen & Co. (U.S. financial communications). FGS is now majority-owned by KKR following WPP's complete exit in August 2024, operating with 1,400+ professionals across 26 offices worldwide.
Founded: December 2021 (merger of FGH and Sard Verbinnen & Co.)
Headquarters: New York, NY
CEO: Alexander Geiser
U.S. Chair: George Sard (named December 2024)
Co-Chairs: Roland Rudd (Finsbury co-founder); Carter Eskew (Glover Park co-founder)
Ownership: KKR majority (~80%); minority stakes held by management and prior investors
Revenue: $455.4M (2023)
Employees: 1,400+
Offices: 26 across North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East
Category: Strategic advisory and communications — financial, corporate, crisis, public affairs
Website: fgsglobal.com
Overview
FGS Global is the largest dedicated strategic communications and public affairs consultancy globally, combining four predecessor firms each of which had dominated its home market before the 2021 merger. The firm advises board-level and C-suite clients across corporate reputation, crisis management, financial communications, public affairs, and government relations.
FGS was ranked the #1 global PR firm for M&A deal count and value in 2022 by Mergermarket, having advised on 322 deals with a total value of over $657 billion. The firm is consistently ranked Band 1 in Crisis & Risk Management and Litigation Support by Chambers and Partners.
History and Ownership
FGS Global's history runs through four predecessor firms:
- Finsbury, founded in 1994 by Roland Rudd in London. The leading UK financial communications firm of its generation.
- The Glover Park Group (GPG), founded by Carter Eskew, Joel Johnson, Michael Feldman, and Gerald Rafshoon in Washington, D.C. A dominant U.S. public affairs firm.
- Hering Schuppener, founded in 1995 by Ralf Hering and Bernd Schuppener in Düsseldorf, Germany. Germany's leading strategic communications firm.
- Sard Verbinnen & Co., founded by George Sard and Paul Verbinnen as one of the dominant U.S. financial communications firms.
WPP held majority stakes in these firms across the 2010s. At the start of 2021, WPP combined Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, and Hering Schuppener into Finsbury Glover Hering (FGH). In December 2021, FGH merged with Sard Verbinnen & Co. and rebranded as FGS Global. Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew served as co-chairs; Alexander Geiser, formerly managing partner at Hering Schuppener, was appointed CEO.
In April 2023, KKR made a growth investment in FGS Global through its European Fund VI, acquiring a 29% stake at a valuation of approximately $1.43 billion. In August 2024, KKR acquired WPP's remaining ~74% equity stake, taking total ownership to approximately 80%. KKR completed the acquisition in December 2024. WPP fully exited.
In December 2024, ahead of the KKR ownership completion, FGS restructured its management team: George Sard, co-founder of Sard Verbinnen, was named to the new role of Chair of the U.S. business. Alexander Geiser continued as Global CEO.
Key Milestones
1994: Finsbury founded by Roland Rudd in London.
1995: Hering Schuppener founded by Ralf Hering and Bernd Schuppener in Düsseldorf.
2001: The Glover Park Group founded in Washington, D.C.
Early 2021: WPP combined Finsbury, Glover Park, and Hering Schuppener into Finsbury Glover Hering (FGH).
December 2021: FGH merged with Sard Verbinnen & Co. to form FGS Global. Alexander Geiser appointed CEO.
2022: Ranked #1 global PR firm by Mergermarket for M&A deal count and value (322 deals, $657B+).
April 2023: KKR made $1.43B-valuation growth investment, acquiring 29% stake.
August 2024: KKR agreed to acquire WPP's remaining 74% stake. WPP exited.
December 2024: KKR completed majority acquisition. George Sard named Chair, U.S. business.
Practice Areas
- Financial Communications. The firm's foundational practice — anchored by Sard Verbinnen & Co.'s U.S. franchise and the deep European financial communications capability of Finsbury, FGH, and Hering Schuppener.
- M&A and Transaction Communications. #1 globally by deal count and value (2022 Mergermarket). Covers acquirer- and target-side communications, hostile defense, regulatory engagement.
- Crisis Management. Band 1 (Chambers and Partners). Crisis response, regulatory enforcement, government investigations, executive transitions.
- Litigation Support. Band 1 (Chambers and Partners). Trial communications, regulatory enforcement, government investigation communications.
- Public Affairs and Government Relations. Anchored by The Glover Park Group's Washington, D.C. franchise and Hering Schuppener's European policy capability.
- Corporate Reputation. Reputation strategy, executive positioning, stakeholder communications.
- Activism Defense. Senior counsel for boards facing proxy contests and activist campaigns.
- Capital Markets. IPO communications, secondary offerings, transaction support.
- ESG and Sustainability. Strategy, disclosure, transition communications.
Leadership
Alexander Geiser serves as Global CEO from Frankfurt, having led the firm since its 2021 formation. George Sard, co-founder of Sard Verbinnen, serves as Chair of the U.S. business (since December 2024). Roland Rudd (Finsbury co-founder) and Carter Eskew (Glover Park co-founder) continue as co-chairs. The firm operates a partnership structure with senior partners serving as practice and regional leaders across its 26 global offices.
Recognition and Industry Standing
- Ranked #1 global PR firm for M&A by Mergermarket in 2022 (322 deals, $657B+ value).
- Chambers Band 1 for Crisis & Risk Management.
- Chambers Band 1 for Litigation Support.
- Consistently recognized by PRWeek, PRovoke Media, and the Holmes Report as one of the leading global communications firms.
Offices
FGS Global operates from 26 offices: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington D.C., West Palm Beach, and Zurich.
Why FGS Global Matters in the Category
FGS Global is the dominant global consolidated platform in strategic and financial communications. The firm's category position is built on four predecessor franchises — each of which dominated its home market for decades — combined under unified leadership in 2021 and now PE-backed by KKR. The firm's transatlantic and Asia-Pacific footprint, depth across financial, corporate, crisis, and public affairs disciplines, and 1,400+ professionals give it scale unmatched among dedicated communications consultancies.
The firm's competitive set includes Brunswick Group, Kekst CNC, Joele Frank, H/Advisors Abernathy, and Teneo's Strategy & Communications practice. FGS's scale and consolidated platform distinguish it; the partner-led independents distinguish themselves on senior-led counsel and structural independence.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener, and Sard Verbinnen — and now FGS Global — since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/fgs-global.
FAQ
When was FGS Global formed?
FGS Global was formed in December 2021 through the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering (itself formed in early 2021 from Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, and Hering Schuppener) and Sard Verbinnen & Co.
Who owns FGS Global?
KKR holds majority ownership (~80%) following the August 2024 acquisition of WPP's remaining equity stake. KKR completed the acquisition in December 2024. Management and prior investors hold minority stakes.
Who is the CEO of FGS Global?
Alexander Geiser, since the firm's 2021 formation. Geiser was previously managing partner at Hering Schuppener.
What does FGS Global specialize in?
Financial communications, M&A communications, crisis management, litigation support, public affairs and government relations, corporate reputation, activism defense, capital markets, and ESG.
How large is FGS Global?
1,400+ professionals across 26 offices worldwide. Reported revenue of $455.4M in 2023.
Where is FGS Global headquartered?
New York, NY, with major offices in London, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Munich, Washington D.C., Brussels, Hong Kong, Singapore, and 18 other global markets.
Key Takeaways
- FGS Global is the dominant consolidated global strategic communications platform, formed December 2021 from the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering and Sard Verbinnen & Co.
- Predecessor firms: Finsbury (1994, UK), The Glover Park Group (D.C. public affairs), Hering Schuppener (1995, Germany), Sard Verbinnen & Co. (U.S. financial).
- KKR-majority-owned (~80%) since the August 2024 / December 2024 acquisition of WPP's stake. WPP fully exited in 2024.
- CEO Alexander Geiser; U.S. Chair George Sard (since December 2024); Co-Chairs Roland Rudd and Carter Eskew.
- 1,400+ professionals across 26 offices. $455.4M revenue (2023).
- #1 global PR firm for M&A deal count and value (2022 Mergermarket).
- Chambers Band 1 in Crisis & Risk Management and Litigation Support.
- The category benchmark for consolidated global communications platforms in the AI Communications era.
Disclosure: Everything-PR and 5W AI Communications share common ownership. Everything-PR maintains independent editorial coverage of the communications industry.
