George Shamiyeh - Partner
Overview
George joined GCI in January 2025. He has a decade of experience in corporate intelligence and investigations, having supported dozens of corporations, investors, and law firms in navigating mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, corporate contests, and market entry strategies.
Languages: English, Arabic
Prior Experience
Before joining GCI, George served as a Senior Program Manager at Visa, where he delivered strategic insights to help safeguard the global payment ecosystem. His work influenced corporate policies addressing fraud, illegal activity, and emerging threats, including the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).
Prior to Visa, George was a Director at Forward Risk, where he played a pivotal role in scaling the firm from a nascent team to a leading corporate investigations provider with over 25 employees. During his five years at Forward Risk, he managed numerous global investigations in support of corporate contests, geopolitical risk advisory matters, and investment due diligence. He departed the firm following its acquisition in late 2022.
George began his career at global risk management and compliance solutions company Exiger, where he led enhanced due diligence investigations for Fortune 500 corporations and their legal counsel. He supported hundreds of equity capital markets transactions, providing clients with actionable intelligence to mitigate risks.
Throughout his career, George has developed a strong track record in identifying and addressing risks related to corruption, fraud, conflicts of interest, mismanagement, and illegal or illicit activity. He has collaborated extensively with partners across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and East and Southeast Asia. As a native Arabic speaker, George has also led multiple high-profile investigations in the Middle East, leveraging his linguistic and cultural expertise to deliver impactful results.
Representative Matters
George employs a meticulous, "no stone unturned" approach to deliver accurate, timely, and actionable intelligence to his clients. Recent highlights include:
Sovereign Wealth Fund Investigation: George led a comprehensive investigation for a major professional sports league considering a public-private partnership with a government in the Middle East. Conducting research in both English and Arabic, he identified significant risks, including ties to sanctioned entities, corruption, and cybercrime, enabling the client to make an informed decision.
CEO Background Investigation: On behalf of an activist hedge fund, George investigated the CEO of a publicly traded U.S. technology company in which the client held a significant stake. Despite the executive's polished professional history, George uncovered a previously undisclosed criminal conviction related to personal misconduct, masked by a common name and incomplete online records. His diligence, including physical court record reviews, led to the CEO's resignation three months later.
Fintech Market Assessment in Indonesia: For a major U.S. fintech startup, George analyzed the competitive landscape and geopolitical risks in Indonesia. By providing a detailed overview of the regulatory environment, political climate, and market barriers, he enabled the client to strategically evaluate market-entry opportunities.
Credentials
George holds a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in Middle East Studies from George Washington University.