Greg Pierson
Retired CEO (Fraud Management, Authentication, Internet Security)
Portland, Oregon’s lush landscapes saw the emergence of an extraordinary visionary, Greg Pierson. A relentless entrepreneur, he epitomizes the essence of leadership, originality, and undeterred spirit. His monumental contributions to device-based reputation systems, especially their transformative role in online fraud management and consumer verification, underscore his innovative prowess.
North Portland was his childhood haven, where he was surrounded by the warmth of his parents and the playfulness of a younger brother. A significant chapter in his life unfolded when the Pierson family moved to Northeast Portland. This humble abode, which sheltered Greg for over four decades, was a cradle of values. His father, dedicatedly managing facilities, and his mother, passionately teaching English, crafted an environment ripe for inculcating diligence and a deep appreciation for literature.
His romantic journey began during his high school years, a chapter that extended into a heartwarming marriage spanning three and a half decades. As life partners, they celebrated milestones, including their daughter’s academic endeavors and their son’s high school memories. A staunch believer in the strength of partnership, he often emphasizes the pivotal role of his unwaveringly supportive wife in his success.
Pierson’s foray into the corporate realm began with Accenture, marking the start of a stellar career. His uncanny ability to untangle complex business problems was evident as he rendered invaluable services to corporate giants like Nordstrom, Bridgestone Firestone, and Land’s End. Leading multifaceted teams, he streamlined business systems and revamped associated processes.
His thirst for innovation never ceased. Through years of research and development, he has been at the forefront of securing multiple patents, particularly in fraud management, user verification, and safeguarded transaction handling.
While his technical acumen is laudable, His true genius lies in his team-building prowess. He deftly created companies from mere napkin sketches, transforming them into globally recognized enterprises with commendable profitability. Though these ventures varied in services, common threads of dedicated teams, invigorating cultures, and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback wove them together. Every member’s equity stakes in these ventures cemented their loyalty, leading to a combined monumental exit value exceeding $650 million.
While individual accolades, such as the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist honor, adorned his mantle, Greg’s pride lay in the recognition his teams achieved. From prestigious awards like InfoSecurity Products Guide to Fortress Cyber Security, his ventures consistently received industry acknowledgment.
His 14-year leadership of iovation culminated in 2018, by which time a staggering 35,000 global brands relied on its unique device-centric intelligence for fraud management and authentication. Screening billions of transactions, iovation thwarted over half a million fraud attempts daily.
This journey caught the attention of TransUnion, leading to the acquisition of iovation in June 2018. This merger ushered in an era of blending device-centric and identity-based intelligence, propelling unprecedented enhancements in consumer experiences and safety.
However, the triumph of iovation transcended its services; it resided in its culture and people. A testament to this was the significant percentage of long-tenured employees and the ‘retreads,’ those who, after exploring other horizons, were irresistibly pulled back by iovation’s magnetic ethos. Notably, the company’s unique tenth anniversary celebrations, like fulfilling an employee’s dream of swimming with great white sharks in South Africa, emphasized its commitment to personal growth.
After spearheading iovation post-acquisition, he played a crucial role in ensuring a smooth leadership transition at TransUnion. His dedication shone through as he facilitated this transition, finally culminating his illustrious stint at the end of 2020.
Greg Pierson’s entrepreneurial journey paints a vivid portrait of dedication, love, innovation, and success, making him a beacon of inspiration for many.
Recognition naturally followed. While personal accolades, like the Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist by Ernst and Young, were significant, what he cherishes more are the awards his teams garnered. His ventures have bagged myriad honors from several industry giants, including the prestigious InfoSecurity Products Guide and Fortress Cyber Security.
Pierson’s journey epitomizes the spirit of entrepreneurship – it’s about vision, resilience, teamwork, and, above all, heart
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Greg Pierson 