President & CEO Jonathon Held Reflects on J.S. Held’s 50th Anniversary

From Our Foundation to Our Future

It is easy to look at J.S. Held today and see only what it has become—an ever-expanding, evolving, and pioneering collective of many of the best experts, new and tenured, in the industry. But that simple description begs many questions: which industry, which experts, and with what aspirations? And that is where J.S. Held’s story begins.

In 1974, J.S. Held took its first steps into the realm of consulting, embarking on a journey to cement its place in the market as a trusted advisor. What began as a firm of a few focused on delivering the news in the evaluation of property damage for insurers, has become a remarkable team of ~2,000 technical, scientific, financial, and strategic experts helping clients realize value and mitigate risk.

From early engagements stemming from Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, the Northridge Earthquake, and the Liberian Civil War, to response after terrorist incidents at the World Trade Center in 1993, Oklahoma City in 1995, and 9/11, and into investigations of multibillion dollar fraud schemes, testimony in some of the largest economic damages cases, as well as helping multinational companies navigate geopolitical risk and maximize their intangible assets, among others—one constant, not just in the insurance realm but in all markets, is change.

Thus, one of the firm’s long-time strengths—thought leadership to bring about change—was adopted early on and continues to guide the way in defining the organization.

How We Embrace Change

Much has changed over the past 50 years. Technology, perhaps, has changed more than anything else, but also the way business is conducted in different industries. The insurance claims industry, for example, has shifted from a highly decentralized business to a highly centralized and controlled industry. Something we have been able to do, continuously, is adapt and grow with the perspective that change is an opportunity, not a challenge.

Having a flexible attitude and incredible experts are two of the key components that have kept us at the forefront of the industry. We have been focused on staying ahead of the market and adapting to the turns.

A big part of our evolution has been the addition of complementary service lines that leverage synergies to truly provide a comprehensive solution across geographies, industries, and cultures. We now provide more than 200 unique services, and the markets we serve have grown to include insurance, legal, corporate, and governmental.

Throughout our journey, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to being thought leaders and catalysts for change. Personal and professional development serve as a guiding force in keeping us ahead of the curve and provide a foundation for us to educate clients on global risks, opportunities to realize value, and emerging trends.

What We See Ahead

Without a doubt, J.S. Held will continue to provide the specialized services and expert advice clients require in an ever-evolving world. We are optimistic about what the future holds and feel well positioned to further our standing as one of the world’s most trusted advisors for technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise.

Our confidence is a reflection of our people, the best and brightest professionals from different backgrounds, who share the same core values and, together, form the backbone of our company. Culture is what led us to this point, and it is the strength of our bond and shared vision that give us an unshakeable belief in where we are going.

Join Us as We Celebrate 50 Years

Throughout 2024, team members from across the firm will share stories of their experiences over the past 50 years and how the industry and different departments have evolved. We look forward to providing a bit of a behind-the-scenes look into our history, how we have reached this milestone, and how we are preparing for the future.