Our Story & Team
We are now BWG Global.
BWG Strategy and OTR Global have joined forces to bring together our unique research methodologies and deep industry expertise. We have rebranded as BWG Global as we continue to expand and evolve.
BWG Global has set the industry standard as the premier provider of industry intelligence to more than 100,000 professionals across leading hedge funds, mutual funds, long-only investment firms, family offices and corporations. Supported by a robust compliance structure and anchored in proven research methodology, BWG Global identifies key market inflections and uncovers unique investable ideas.
BWG Global is built on the success of two research brands, OTR Global and BWG Strategy.
OTR Global was founded in 1995 as Off The Record Research in San Francisco, CA. OTR pioneered an investigative, interview-based methodology providing channel research to the institutional investment community. It expanded its footprint internationally to conduct live, in-depth interviews in more than 20 countries in North and South America, Europe, and Asia rebranding as OTR Global.
BWG Strategy was founded in New York City in 2013. BWG led the way with the development of moderated group roundtable discussions. The methodology was built around the concept of an interactive group discussion to answer key questions and unearth evolving trends. The business grew to more than 1,200 forums annually conducted virtually, continuing to follow proven methodology.
BWG Global offers products and services through a license subscription to its digital research library and live events, including Primary Intelligence Virtual Forums, Forum Synopses, Channel Intelligence Research Reports, Market Insight Survey Reports and Custom Research.
Our leadership team

Jon Kurzner
CEO
CEO
- Jonathan has spent his career building data and insights businesses that help investment managers and corporations make more informed decisions.
- Before joining BWG Global, he was Chief Operating Officer at Kafene where he led several business units, including operations, sales and analytics.
- Previously, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at Cint, a global leader in digital insights and research technology, and Head of Revenue and Sales at Earnest Analytics, which provides alternative data products for investors and corporates
- Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Researcher at Bridgewater Associates, a global hedge fund, and Vice President at GLG, the world’s leading platform for professional expertise. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University.

Mukesh Chaudhary
Head of Sales & Service
Head of Sales & Service
- ~20 years at GLG, most recently as Head of Client Solutions, Enterprise Public Equities, covering top institutional investors, including the world’s largest hedge funds.
- Former Associate at Heidrick & Struggles; Former Analyst at S&P Capital IQ.
- MBA in Marketing; BS in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delhi, India.
- Lives by the philosophy that great service isn’t optional because it’s the whole game, obsessed with delivering experiences that matter and refusing to settle for “good enough.”
- Emotionally invested, often irrationally, in the SF 49ers and Golden State Warriors. 100% sure this is our year every year.

Greg Irwin
Co-Founder, Head of Technology Research
Co-Founder, Head of Technology Research
- Greg is an engineer by training, and spent 9 year working at SalomonSmithBarney / Citigroup, 8 years at Lucent / Avaya, and founded a SaaS Startup BigTwist. Greg co-founded BWG strategy in 2013, and after a range of roles, Greg has spent the last 7 years leading technology research for the firm.
- Greg lives locally in Westfield NJ with his wife, 2 kids and dogs. Greg is on the board of the Westfield Foundation, that supports local charities and initiatives.
- Linkedin

Thomas Hickey
COO & CCO
COO & CCO
- With over a decade of dedicated service at BWG Global (formerly OTR Global + BWG Strategy), Thomas has been instrumental in steering the firm’s compliance and operational excellence. His extensive legal expertise, honed over 19 years as a trial lawyer, and his leadership as former President of the City of Stamford Board of Education, underscore his commitment to integrity and strategic vision.
- Thomas holds a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fordham University

Olya Klimiashvili
SVP, Operations
SVP, Operations
- Olya leads BWG Global’s research organization, overseeing operations across multiple industry sectors and regions.
- With over 20 years of experience at OTR Global, she has continuously enhanced research processes and products, most recently integrating best practices and sector teams.
- Earlier in her career, Olya conducted quantitative and qualitative consumer research for Coca-Cola Export Corp. in Moscow, Russia.
- She holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in business from Touro University, Moscow.

Rob Kovsky
CTO & CIO
CTO & CIO
- In his role as CTO & CIO at BWG Global, Robert has executed a digital transformation that has brought great efficiency to how the business uses technology, and how our clients and network experience BWG Global’s products.
- Robert loves to sit at the intersection of Tech and Business, proving the role of technology in achieving highly valued business outcomes.
- Prior to joining BWG Global, Robert was a VP at SES Satellites where he oversaw a global technical team and drove many global transformation programs focused on improving operations throughout the commercial and technical organizations.
- Earlier in his Career he worked for CRM and ERP resellers where he managed a development team and led dozens of implementations for clients of multiple sizes, throughout multiple industries.
- Robert holds a B.S. in CIS from Rider University (USA), and an MBA from Warwick University (UK)

Sarah Knoesen
VP, Data Research
VP, Data Research
- Sarah heads up the survey data research team and manages BWG Global’s custom research product.
- Prior to joining BWG, Sarah led the Corporate Research Practice at Hanover Research where she oversaw the creation of custom market research projects for both B2B and B2C clients.
- Earlier in here career, Sarah worked at Atlantic Media, where she was the Director of Research at Ballast Research, focused on turning a fledgling product into a strategic research service. She also conducted program evaluation research for the World Bank.
- Sarah has a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from University of California, Irvine and a M.A. in Political Science from University of California, San Diego

Alena Pagerie
VP, Finance
VP, Finance
- Alena oversees all financial operations at BWG Global, supporting strategic growth and business success.
- A seasoned CPA with over 15 years of experience, she brings deep expertise in accounting and financial management.
- Before joining BWG, she served as a Controller across diverse industries—including consulting, hospitality, and real estate— providing her with a well-rounded perspective and strategic financial insight.

Aaron Conant
Head of BWG Connect
Head of BWG Connect
- Co-Founder & Managing Director of BWG Connect and Host of the Digital Deep Dive Podcast
- Prior to this, Aaron was Head of Ecommerce Sales and Business Development at Perrigo, a multi-billion-dollar OTC pharmaceutical company where he led their online sales initiatives including Amazon and Direct to Consumer. He began his career as a Scientist at Pfizer formulating synthetic pathways for novel compounds entering Phase I & II clinical trials.
- Aaron holds a BS in Chemistry and Biochemistry from The University of Michigan and an MBA from Western Michigan University
- In his spare time, he enjoys chauffeuring his 4 kids to various sporting practices and games.