Global Strategy Group: NYC Public Affairs and Research Firm

Originally published June 2018. Updated October 14, 2026.

What is Global Strategy Group?

Global Strategy Group, or GSG, is a New York public affairs, research and communications firm founded in 1995 by Jon Silvan and Jefrey Pollock. It began as a Democratic polling firm and now offers public affairs, corporate communications, research and creative services. SEC Newgate acquired a 70% stake in April 2022.

Who founded and leads Global Strategy Group?

Jon Silvan and Jefrey Pollock founded the firm in 1995 in the rent-controlled apartment of Silvan's recently deceased grandmother, according to Crain's New York Business, which says they began with market research and broadened into polling and strategic consulting. Silvan is CEO and Pollock is president, per the firm. CB Insights reports the firm promoted Nick Gourevitch to president of research and insights and Tanya Meck, who joined in 2014, to president of communications and public affairs.

Who owns Global Strategy Group?

SEC Newgate acquired a 70% stake in GSG in April 2022, according to CB Insights and a financial-data listing, which describes GSG as part of SEC Newgate. The firm's 30th-anniversary release says it is now over 150 people strong. Silvan said in 2025 that it would launch a corporate insights practice focused on market research.

What does Global Strategy Group do?

Silvan told City & State that GSG offers traditional PR, brand research, crisis management, creative content and media solutions, in addition to political and ballot initiative work. The firm describes uniting subject matter experts and communications professionals with pollsters, data scientists and an in-house creative team. EPR's public affairs and crisis PR sections cover the disciplines.

Which clients has Global Strategy Group worked with?

Silvan's sponsored Q&A names MGM Resorts, T-Mobile, Netflix, Google, the Rockefeller Foundation and Teach for America, and the firm's release says it has advised public officials including Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from their early campaigns. These client lists come from the firm. EPR's earlier profile also named General Motors, American Express, Microsoft, Airbnb and Uber, which were not re-verified.

What recognition has Global Strategy Group received?

The firm says it was named PRovoke Media's Public Affairs Agency of the Year twice and the American Association of Political Consultants' Pollster of the Year twice, and that PRWeek named its work a 2024 Public Affairs Campaign of the Year and Observer ranked it first on its 2024 PR Power list. These are firm statements and were not confirmed with the awarding bodies.

How does Global Strategy Group compare with other public affairs firms?

GSG is a mid-sized public affairs specialist with a research base, so compare it with the firms in EPR's public affairs section and the PR agency profiles directory, including APCO Worldwide and BerlinRosen.

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Related: PR agency profiles, Public affairs, Crisis PR, APCO Worldwide