Henry Blodget

Henry Blodget is an American financial journalist, investor, and entrepreneur known for his high-profile role during the 1990s dot-com boom and later as co-founder and CEO of Business Insider. He became a prominent figure in Silicon Valley and New York City financial circles through work at Morgan Stanley and commentary on NASDAQ-listed companies, later transitioning to digital media and editorial leadership. His career spans roles in investment banking, online publishing, television commentary, and venture investing, intersecting with major institutions and regulatory actions of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Early life and education

Born in San Francisco in 1963, Blodget attended preparatory school in the San Francisco Bay Area before matriculating at Yale University, where he studied History and graduated in the mid-1980s. He continued his education at Harvard Business School, earning an MBA that positioned him for roles at prominent Wall Street firms in New York City, connecting him to alumni networks at Harvard, Yale, and corporate centers such as Wall Street and Financial District, Manhattan.

Career

Blodget began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley during the late 1980s and early 1990s, advising technology and media companies amid the rise of Silicon Alley and the expansion of NASDAQ. As a research analyst, he covered Internet and technology stocks during the dot-com boom, interacting with executives from firms including Amazon (company), Yahoo!, AOL, Cisco Systems, and Microsoft. He gained notoriety for bullish reports and revenue forecasts that influenced institutional investors at firms such as Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, and Credit Suisse. Transitioning from banking to media, he wrote and spoke for outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune (magazine), and broadcast platforms like CNBC and Bloomberg Television. In 2007 he co-founded Business Insider with Kevin P. Ryan, later bringing on investors and partners connected to Axel Springer SE, Clifford G.],] and other media conglomerates, expanding the outlet’s coverage of technology, finance, and media industries.

Business scandal and SEC settlement

During the early 2000s, Blodget became a central figure in investigations of analyst conduct related to the dot-com bubble, which involved scrutiny from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), congressional committees such as the United States House Committee on Financial Services, and industry bodies including the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). In 2003 the SEC charged him with issuing research reports that were materially misleading, alongside enforcement actions affecting analysts at firms like Salomon Smith Barney and other Wall Street institutions implicated in the broader analyst-investor conflicts of the era. The resulting settlement included a civil penalty, industry bans, and disgorgement, and was contemporaneous with regulatory reforms such as the Sarbanes–Oxley Act aftermath and revisions to analyst conflict-of-interest policies adopted by exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and regulators including the SEC.

Post-settlement career and media work

After resolving the settlement, Blodget refocused on digital media, co-founding Business Insider and serving as its editorial leader, overseeing expansion into international editions and thematic channels covering technology, business, finance, and media. He became a frequent commentator on broadcast outlets including NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg Television, and authored opinion pieces and reporting that referenced markets influenced by companies such as Apple Inc., Google LLC, Facebook, Inc., Netflix, and Tesla, Inc.. His post-settlement activities also included venture investing and advisory roles with startups in New York City and San Francisco, engagement with journalism organizations like the Columbia Journalism Review and partnerships with media groups such as Axel Springer SE when Business Insider pursued acquisitions and strategic investments. He participated in speaking events at institutions including Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, and conferences like Web Summit and South by Southwest.

Personal life

Blodget has been based primarily in New York City while maintaining ties to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and his personal network spans figures from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and the media industry, including entrepreneurs, investors, and editors from outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He has engaged in philanthropy and public discussions on journalism ethics, market structure, and technology policy, connecting with organizations such as Pew Research Center, Knight Foundation, and academic institutions including Columbia University and New York University.

Category:American journalists Category:Businesspeople from San Francisco Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:Yale University alumni