Gideon Gartner

Gideon I. Gartner (born 1935) is the founder of Gartner, Inc. (formerly Gartner Group Inc. until 2001) a Stamford, Connecticut information technology (IT) research and advisory company.

Early life and education

Gartner was born in Israel and grew up in New York City. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956 with a BSME. He graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1960 with a Master's degree.

Early career

Gartner began his career in the computer business. At IBM, he was Manager of Market Information in its Data Processing Division, and Systems Engineering Manager and Systems Engineer in IBM World Trade Corporation. He also worked for Philco Corporation in its Computer Division, and for System Development Corporation, working on two U.S. government large system contracts: SACCS (Strategic Air Command and Control System), and DCA (Defense Communication Agency Control System).

IT industry information businesses

In the years leading up to the formation of Gartner Group, Gartner was a partner at Oppenheimer & Co. He was voted the top individual technology analyst on Wall Street between the years 1972 and 1977 inclusive, in the annual poll of major banks, funds and other institutional investing firms, published by Institutional Investor Magazine.