Global Governance Advisors

What Global Governance Advisors does

Global Governance Advisors (GGA) is a Toronto-headquartered human capital consulting firm providing executive compensation and corporate governance advisory services to boards of directors and senior management. Founded in 2009/2010 by Luis Navas, the firm operates with a partnership-led team (10+ advisors) located in Toronto, Calgary, and Miami, serving publicly-traded, privately held, family-owned, pension fund, and government-owned organizations across Canada and the United States. Named enterprise clients disclosed on the firm's website include TD Bank, BMO, OMERS Ventures, Element, and Jamieson, alongside coverage of all 100 issuers in the S&P/TSX Composite Index through the long-running Board Games governance rating.

GGA's core service lines span executive compensation design (philosophy, peer groups, short- and long-term incentive plans, performance metric calibration, equity plan drafting, disclosure drafting, and shareholder engagement), corporate governance advisory (board effectiveness assessments, director education, governance reviews, and CEO succession planning), and custom compensation surveys. The firm's technology asset is the emPower Platform, a digital boardroom tool that consolidates board skills identification, self-assessment questionnaires, and skills matrix outputs for board composition evaluation. GGA also delivers an Executive Compensation Certificate Program (AECP) covering 11 curriculum topics across 20 CPD hours, offered virtually through CPHR Alberta and Calgary Total Rewards Network, and in-person in Toronto through HRPA, with tiered pricing of $1,000-$1,500+ per participant.

GGA monetizes primarily through professional services fees for bespoke advisory engagements (pricing undisclosed, quote-based), supplemented by revenue from custom and published compensation surveys and modest certificate program tuition. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, supported by a thought leadership engine built on 25-year media partnerships with the Globe and Mail (Board Games and CEO Pay for Performance Survey), the Calgary Herald, and the Miami Herald, plus educational delivery through HR-association channel partners. In July 2025 the firm extended its distribution surface through a partnership with People Corporation, a Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking-backed human capital platform serving 2.6M+ Canadian plan members, broadening GGA's access to group benefits, retirement, wellness, and HR solutions across its existing client base.

Name

Global Governance Advisors

Legal name

Global Governance Advisors

Website

https://ggainc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Governance Advisors is a Toronto-based human capital consulting firm providing executive compensation, board effectiveness, CEO succession, and corporate governance advisory services to boards of directors of publicly-traded, privately held, family-owned, pension fund, and government-owned organizations across Canada and the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Compensation and Governance Advisory

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Proxy Voting & Governance Services (FSAAAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Stewardship & Active Ownership (Engagement, Proxy Voting, Shareholder Advocacy) (FSAAALAD)

Keywords

• Executive compensation advisory
• Corporate governance consulting
• Board effectiveness services
• CEO succession planning
• Compensation survey research

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Compensation Advisory: Consulting fees for compensation philosophy development, executive pay design, short and long-term incentive design, performance metric calibration, equity plan drafting and review, disclosure drafting, and shareholder engagement services.
2. Corporate Governance Advisory: Fees for board effectiveness assessment, director education, corporate governance reviews, CEO succession planning, and non-executive director compensation services.
3. Compensation Surveys: Custom compensation surveys for clients, as well as published annual surveys conducted in partnership with major media organizations.
4. Executive Compensation Certificate Program: Educational program offered virtually and in-person in partnership with CPHR Alberta, HRPA, and Calgary Total Rewards Network. Fees range from $1,000-$1,500+ depending on membership status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Global Governance Advisors (GGA) is a human capital consulting firm that provides executive compensation and corporate governance advisory services to boards of directors and senior management. The firm delivers strategic, objective, and conflict-free advice on compensation philosophy, incentive design, performance metrics, board effectiveness, CEO succession planning, and shareholder disclosure, supported by a proprietary database of over a decade of compensation and governance data.

Product overview

Global Governance Advisors (GGA) is a human capital consulting firm offering executive compensation and governance advisory services. The firm operates a digital boardroom platform called emPower for board management, self-assessment, and skills matrix evaluation. GGA also delivers professional education through its Executive Compensation Certificate Program and conducts annual research publications including the CEO Pay for Performance Survey (with the Globe and Mail) and Board Games corporate governance ratings. Services include executive compensation advisory, corporate governance advisory, board effectiveness, CEO succession planning, and custom compensation surveys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• emPower platform: Digital boardroom platform for board management, surveys, and governance support technology.

Products and services

• Executive Compensation Advisory Advisory engagement for compensation philosophy and peer group development, executive pay design, short and long-term incentive plan design, performance metric calibration and goal setting, equity plan drafting and review, and disclosure drafting and shareholder engagement. Delivered to boards of directors and senior management of corporate clients.
• Corporate Governance Advisory Advisory engagement covering corporate governance reviews, shareholder advisory guideline review, and disclosure drafting and shareholder engagement services. Designed for boards of publicly-traded, privately held, family-owned, pension fund, and government-owned organizations.
• Board Effectiveness Services Advisory services for board effectiveness assessment, director education, and non-executive director compensation. Designed to evaluate and improve how boards function, including composition, skills, and oversight practices.
• CEO Succession Planning Advisory service for planning and managing executive leadership transitions, supporting boards through succession strategy and execution.
• Compensation Surveys Custom compensation surveys and market benchmarking analysis for clients, alongside published annual surveys conducted in partnership with media organizations.
• Executive Compensation Certificate Program Professional development certificate program covering executive compensation reviews, plan design, and corporate governance and oversight. Offered virtually (with CPHR Alberta and CTRN) and in-person (with HRPA) at fees of $1,000-$1,500+ depending on membership status. Targets senior management, executives, and board members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Analyzed over 100,000 governance data points for Board Games publication
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Globe and MailflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026GGA serves as data partner for Globe and Mail's Board Games annual corporate governance rating of S&P/TSX Composite Index companies for 25 consecutive years. Also partnered for annual CEO Pay for Performance Survey ranking the 100 largest public companies in Canada's S&P/TSX Composite Index.
• People CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer comprehensive human capital management services. People Corporation is financially backed by Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division and serves over 2.6 million Canadian plan members. GGA clients gain access to group benefits consulting, group retirement solutions, and wellness programs through this partnership.
• Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for Report on Governance Professionals Responsibilities & Remuneration survey, now in its 6th edition. GGA provides research expertise and analysis on the role of governance professionals in Canada.
• CPHR AlbertacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVirtual Executive Compensation Certificate Program offered October 22-24, 2024 in partnership with CPHR Alberta. CPHR Alberta members receive preferred rate of $1,000 for the program offering 20 CPD hours.
• Calgary Total Rewards Network (CTRN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVirtual Executive Compensation Certificate Program offered in partnership with CTRN from October 22nd to 24th, 2024.
• Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIn-person Executive Compensation Certificate Program delivered November 11-13, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario in partnership with HRPA. HRPA members qualify for preferred rate of $1,300. Program provides 20 CPD hours.
• Odgers BerndstonminorOthersExecutive search firm hosting the in-person Executive Compensation Certificate Program in Toronto, Ontario from November 11-13, 2024.
• Florida International University (FIU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGA donated a 10,000 sq.-ft., fully equipped kitchen at Inverrary Golf Resort to FIU's hospitality program to support training of neurotypical and Autistic students as specialty chefs and hospitality personnel.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercer: Global consulting leader with a large executive compensation and governance practice serving boards of multinational corporates; comparable in service mix (executive pay design, governance advisory) but vastly larger and broader in HR/benefits portfolio than GGA's boutique model.
• Aon: McLagan and broader Aon Human Capital practice offer executive compensation benchmarking and governance advisory — overlapping with GGA's compensation surveys and incentive design work while bundled with Aon's broader risk and HR consulting.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with executive search plus board and CEO advisory practices — overlaps with GGA's CEO succession and board effectiveness services, with much larger scale and cross-sell potential.
• Willis Towers Watson: Global advisory firm with a dedicated Executive Compensation and Board Advisory practice covering pay design, governance reviews, and board effectiveness — directly comparable service categories to GGA, with much greater geographic and segment reach.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Executive search and leadership advisory firm with a Heidrick Consulting practice covering board effectiveness and CEO succession — comparable to GGA's board effectiveness and succession advisory offerings.

Direct peers

• Pay Governance: Independent executive compensation advisory firm serving compensation committees and boards — directly comparable to GGA's executive compensation practice in scope, deliverable type, and client profile (publicly-traded issuers).
• Pearl Meyer & Partners: Independent US-focused executive compensation and governance consulting firm serving boards and senior management — comparable in service mix (pay design, governance, CEO succession) and boutique positioning to GGA.
• Compensation Advisory Partners: Boutique independent advisor focused on executive compensation, incentive design, and board advisory — closely mirrors GGA's service catalog and target client (Fortune 1000 / large-cap compensation committees).
• Hugessen Consulting: Canadian-based independent executive compensation and governance advisor — the closest direct peer to GGA, with comparable boutique scale, Canadian enterprise client base, and focus on compensation philosophy, incentive design, and proxy disclosure.

Emerging players

• Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS): Leading proxy advisory and governance services firm whose voting policies drive the shareholder advisory firm guidelines GGA explicitly aligns with — adjacent rather than directly competing, but operating in the same governance ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GlobalGovGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-governance-advisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Governance Advisors