Gian M. Fulgoni
Encyclopedia
Gian M. Fulgoni is a entrepreneur
and 40-year market research expert, with particular focus on the measurement of consumer behaviour
and the effectiveness of advertising and promotion programs in TV, print and online. Mr. Fulgoni has held several executive leadership positions throughout his career, and has been a member of the executive team that managed the successful public offering of two market research companies, Information Resources, Inc.
and comScore
, Inc. Fulgoni has also served on the boards of successful public companies in the software, consumer electronics, pet products, marketing services and market research industries.
Fulgoni co-founded comScore, Inc. in 1999, an Internet market intelligence company where he remains Executive Chairman. The company provides marketing intelligence
for companies in the CPG, Internet, media, retail, telecom, and other industries, spanning 6 continents and 43 countries. He is the co-holder of a U.S. patent governing comScore’s data collection technology. comScore was selected as a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum
before the forum’s annual conference in Davos in 2007. In 2010 comScore was accepted by the World Economic Forum as a Global Growth Company Shaper, a program that recognizes companies that are influencing global trends among growth technology companies.
Fulgoni began his career in 1970 with Management Science Associates, Inc. a market research company and by 1977 had been named Executive Vice President
with responsibility for the company’s Chicago office and national consumer behavior analysis business.
During the period from 1981 to 1998, Fulgoni held the positions of President, CEO and Chairman of Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the global supplier of retail UPC scanner data to the CPG industry, where, under his leadership, the company’s revenues grew at an annual rate of 40% to more than $500 million annually and its market value reached $1.5 Billion. In 1996, IRI was recognized by Advertising Age
magazine as the largest U.S. market research firm. IRI is widely acknowledged as the pioneer of the use of UPC scanner data for the analysis of consumer behavior in the CPG industry through its BehaviorScan and Infoscan services.
Fulgoni has long been involved in the growth of hugely successful public companies. From 1991 until 1999, he served as a member of the board of Platinum Technology
, Inc., during which time the company grew from $80 million to more than $1 Billion in annual revenues and established itself as a global leader in the software services industry. In 1999, Platinum Technology was acquired by Computer Associates in an all-cash transaction valued at $4 Billion—at the time the largest-ever acquisition
in the software industry. Fulgoni also served on the board of U.S. Robotics
prior to its acquisition in 1997 by 3Com
in a transaction valued at $8 Billion. In 1999 and 2000, Fulgoni served on the board of yesMail.com, a leading supplier of permission-based e-mail services. In March 2000, yesMail.com was acquired by CMGI
for approximately $700 million.
Today, Fulgoni serves on the boards of PetMeds (NASDAQ:PETS), the nation’s largest pet pharmacy; InXpo, the leading supplier of technology for hosting virtual events; the Advertising Research Foundation
(ARF); Prophet, a strategic brand and marketing consultancy, and the North American Foundation for the University of Manchester
(NAFUM). Fulgoni is also a charter member of TiE Midwest, the world's largest not-for-profit organization for entrepreneurs.
Fulgoni has authored articles in a variety of academic and industry journals, including the Journal of Advertising Research, Admap and ESOMAR. He is a frequent and popular speaker at marketing industry conferences worldwide, discussing Internet industry trends and marketing subjects of vital significance, and is regularly quoted and interviewed in the newspaper and television media.
Career Summary
Award for outstanding contributions as CEO in enhancing the overall value of IRI to the benefit of its shareholder
s. In 2008, Fulgoni was inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Leonard Lavin, founder of Alberto-Culver
and Gordon Segal, founder of Crate and Barrel
. Also in 2008, Fulgoni was named Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year.
Industry Recognition Summary
Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year
Advertising Research Foundation, Great Mind Award
, South Wales
, the son of Italian parents who had emigrated from a small town in Bardi, Emilia-Romagna. Fulgoni’s father owned and operated a small restaurant. Fulgoni was an outstanding all around student who excelled in science and attended the University of Manchester from 1966 to 1969 where he graduated with an honors degree in Physics in 1969 before graduating with an M.A. in Marketing in 1970 from Lancaster University Management School
in the second year of the university’s breakthrough masters in marketing program, at the time the only such program in the U.K. Upon graduating, Fulgoni was offered an entry-level position by Management Science Associates as a project analyst, and moved to the U.S. to work at the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Educated in the U.K., Fulgoni holds a B.Sc. degree (with Honors) in Physics and an M.A. in Marketing.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and 40-year market research expert, with particular focus on the measurement of consumer behaviour
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behaviour is the study of when, why, how, and where people do or do not buy a product. It blends elements from psychology, sociology, social anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups...
and the effectiveness of advertising and promotion programs in TV, print and online. Mr. Fulgoni has held several executive leadership positions throughout his career, and has been a member of the executive team that managed the successful public offering of two market research companies, Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc.
SymphonyIRI Group is a market research company which provides clients withconsumer, shopper, and retail market intelligence and analysis focused on the consumer packaged goods industry....
and comScore
ComScore
comScore is a Internet marketing research company providing marketing data and services to many of the Internet's largest businesses. comScore tracks all internet data on its surveyed computers in order to study online behavior....
, Inc. Fulgoni has also served on the boards of successful public companies in the software, consumer electronics, pet products, marketing services and market research industries.
Fulgoni co-founded comScore, Inc. in 1999, an Internet market intelligence company where he remains Executive Chairman. The company provides marketing intelligence
Marketing Intelligence
Marketing Intelligence is the information relevant to a company’s markets, gathered and analyzed specifically for the purpose of accurate and confident decision-making in determining market opportunity, market penetration strategy, and market development metrics. Marketing intelligence is...
for companies in the CPG, Internet, media, retail, telecom, and other industries, spanning 6 continents and 43 countries. He is the co-holder of a U.S. patent governing comScore’s data collection technology. comScore was selected as a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
before the forum’s annual conference in Davos in 2007. In 2010 comScore was accepted by the World Economic Forum as a Global Growth Company Shaper, a program that recognizes companies that are influencing global trends among growth technology companies.
Fulgoni began his career in 1970 with Management Science Associates, Inc. a market research company and by 1977 had been named Executive Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
with responsibility for the company’s Chicago office and national consumer behavior analysis business.
During the period from 1981 to 1998, Fulgoni held the positions of President, CEO and Chairman of Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the global supplier of retail UPC scanner data to the CPG industry, where, under his leadership, the company’s revenues grew at an annual rate of 40% to more than $500 million annually and its market value reached $1.5 Billion. In 1996, IRI was recognized by Advertising Age
Advertising Age
Advertising Age is a magazine, delivering news, analysis and data on marketing and media. The magazine was started as a broadsheet newspaper in Chicago in 1930...
magazine as the largest U.S. market research firm. IRI is widely acknowledged as the pioneer of the use of UPC scanner data for the analysis of consumer behavior in the CPG industry through its BehaviorScan and Infoscan services.
Fulgoni has long been involved in the growth of hugely successful public companies. From 1991 until 1999, he served as a member of the board of Platinum Technology
Platinum Technology
Platinum Technology Inc. was founded by Andrew Filipowski in 1987 to market and support deployment of database management software products and the applications enabled by database management technology and render related services...
, Inc., during which time the company grew from $80 million to more than $1 Billion in annual revenues and established itself as a global leader in the software services industry. In 1999, Platinum Technology was acquired by Computer Associates in an all-cash transaction valued at $4 Billion—at the time the largest-ever acquisition
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
in the software industry. Fulgoni also served on the board of U.S. Robotics
U.S. Robotics
USRobotics Corporation is a company that makes computer modems and related products. It sold high-speed modems in the 1980s, and had a reputation for high quality and compatibility. With the reduced usage of voiceband modems in North America in the early 21st century, USR is now one of the few...
prior to its acquisition in 1997 by 3Com
3Com
3Com was a pioneering digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney, Bruce Borden, and Greg Shaw...
in a transaction valued at $8 Billion. In 1999 and 2000, Fulgoni served on the board of yesMail.com, a leading supplier of permission-based e-mail services. In March 2000, yesMail.com was acquired by CMGI
CMGI
ModusLink Global Solutions, formerly CMGI Inc., is an American technology and venture capital company, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. The company supplies a range of internet and communications services, mostly to computer companies, its biggest customer being Hewlett-Packard Company...
for approximately $700 million.
Today, Fulgoni serves on the boards of PetMeds (NASDAQ:PETS), the nation’s largest pet pharmacy; InXpo, the leading supplier of technology for hosting virtual events; the Advertising Research Foundation
Advertising Research Foundation
The Advertising Research Foundation is a nonprofit industry association for creating, aggregating, synthesizing and sharing knowledge in the fields of advertising and media. It was founded in 1936 by the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies...
(ARF); Prophet, a strategic brand and marketing consultancy, and the North American Foundation for the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
(NAFUM). Fulgoni is also a charter member of TiE Midwest, the world's largest not-for-profit organization for entrepreneurs.
Fulgoni has authored articles in a variety of academic and industry journals, including the Journal of Advertising Research, Admap and ESOMAR. He is a frequent and popular speaker at marketing industry conferences worldwide, discussing Internet industry trends and marketing subjects of vital significance, and is regularly quoted and interviewed in the newspaper and television media.
Career Summary
- 1999 – Present : Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, comScore, Inc.
- 1980–1998 : President, CEO & Chairman, Information Resources, Inc.
- 1970–1980 : Various positions at Management Science Associates
Industry Recognition
In 1991 and again in 2004, Fulgoni was named Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year, the only person to have twice received the award. In 1992, Fulgoni received the Wall Street TranscriptThe Wall Street Transcript
The Wall Street Transcript is a paid subscription publication and Web site that publishes bi-weekly industry reports that feature equity analyst, money manager and CEO interviews...
Award for outstanding contributions as CEO in enhancing the overall value of IRI to the benefit of its shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
s. In 2008, Fulgoni was inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Leonard Lavin, founder of Alberto-Culver
Alberto-Culver
Alberto-Culver is an American corporation with international sales whose principal business is manufacturing hair and skin beauty care products under such brands as Alberto VO5, Andrew Collinge, St. Ives , TRESemmé, FDS, Consort, and Nexxus. It is a manufacturer in the multicultural beauty care...
and Gordon Segal, founder of Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel
Crate & Barrel is a 170+ store chain of American retail stores, based in Northbrook, Illinois, specializing in housewares, furniture , and home accessories. Its corporate name is Euromarket Designs, Inc. The company is wholly owned by Otto GmbH.-Founding:Gordon and Carole Segal opened the first...
. Also in 2008, Fulgoni was named Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Entrepreneur of the Year.
Industry Recognition Summary
- 2008 : Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year
Advertising Research Foundation, Great Mind Award
- 2004 & 1991 : Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year
- 1992 : Wall Street Transcript Award
Personal History
Fulgoni was born and raised in PontypoolPontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, the son of Italian parents who had emigrated from a small town in Bardi, Emilia-Romagna. Fulgoni’s father owned and operated a small restaurant. Fulgoni was an outstanding all around student who excelled in science and attended the University of Manchester from 1966 to 1969 where he graduated with an honors degree in Physics in 1969 before graduating with an M.A. in Marketing in 1970 from Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School in Lancaster, England, is the business school of Lancaster University. The School was established in 1964. A full range of subjects are taught, ranging from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees including MBAs, PhDs and post-experience executive...
in the second year of the university’s breakthrough masters in marketing program, at the time the only such program in the U.K. Upon graduating, Fulgoni was offered an entry-level position by Management Science Associates as a project analyst, and moved to the U.S. to work at the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Educated in the U.K., Fulgoni holds a B.Sc. degree (with Honors) in Physics and an M.A. in Marketing.