# Courtland Brooks Acquires Global Dating Insights, Expanding Industry Influence _Courtland Brooks acquires GDI, enhancing its reach in the dating industry. Founders should note the potential for increased collaboration and insights._ Source: https://highintentmedia.com/news/global-dating-insights-acquired-courtland Author: High Intent Newsroom Published: 2026-09-16T09:30:00+00:00 Last updated: 2026-09-16T09:55:31.707398+00:00 Category: M&A ## Summary Courtland Brooks, founded by Mark Brooks, acquired Global Dating Insights (GDI). GDI, an international media and events business for the dating industry, was founded by Simon Corbett in late 2013. This acquisition means GDI will continue providing news, intelligence, and events under new leadership, focusing on industry changes like AI and consolidation. Operators should note GDI's continued role as a central information hub. ## Key takeaways - Courtland Brooks, led by Mark Brooks, acquired Global Dating Insights (GDI). - GDI, founded in late 2013, became an international media and events business. - The acquisition allows GDI to continue covering dating industry developments. - GDI was the first media brand for Industry Insights Group (IIG). - This transition aims to support the dating industry through new market changes. ## FAQ ### Who acquired Global Dating Insights (GDI) and who is leading it now? Courtland Brooks, a specialist online dating consultancy founded by industry veteran Mark Brooks, acquired Global Dating Insights (GDI). Mark Brooks will now lead GDI's development under the new ownership. This transition brings together two businesses that have collaborated within the online dating industry for many years, aiming to build on GDI's editorial heritage and events platform. ### What is Global Dating Insights (GDI) and how long has it been operating? Global Dating Insights (GDI) is a leading news, intelligence, and events platform for the global online dating industry. It was founded by Simon Corbett in late 2013, meaning it has been operating for almost 13 years. GDI has developed from a specialist news website into an international media and events business, covering companies, entrepreneurs, investors, technologies, and trends in the dating sector. ### What does this acquisition mean for the content and focus of GDI? Under new ownership, GDI will continue to cover developments and provide a platform for executives, entrepreneurs, and companies building dating and social discovery businesses. Mark Brooks stated that GDI will focus on the global online dating sector's significant changes, including AI, regulation, trust and safety, new monetization approaches, and industry consolidation. The aim is to maintain its influential role. ### What is the significance of GDI for Industry Insights Group (IIG)? GDI was the first media brand within Industry Insights Group (IIG), the specialist B2B media group founded by Simon Corbett. Its success established the model for IIG's portfolio of eight specialist B2B media brands, combining journalism with events, conferences, reports, and professional communities. The sale marks an important milestone in IIG's development and validates its specialist B2B media model. - Global Dating Insights has been acquired by Courtland Brooks, a specialist online dating consultancy founded by industry veteran Mark Brooks - GDI was founded by Simon Corbett in late 2013 and has grown into an international media and events business over 13 years - The platform has published thousands of articles and hosted conferences across London, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and San Francisco - GDI was the first media brand within Industry Insights Group, establishing the model for IIG's portfolio of eight specialist B2B media brands Global Dating Insights (GDI), the leading news, intelligence and events platform for the global online dating industry, has been acquired by Courtland Brooks, the specialist online dating consultancy founded by industry veteran Mark Brooks. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for GDI, almost 13 years after it was founded by Simon Corbett in late 2013. Corbett launched Global Dating Insights after identifying the need for a dedicated B2B media platform covering the rapidly growing online dating industry. What began as a specialist news website has since developed into an international media and events business, covering the companies, entrepreneurs, investors, technologies and trends shaping the global dating sector. Over the past 13 years, the GDI editorial team has published thousands of news stories, interviews, features and analysis pieces, alongside the GDI Podcast, annual Power Book, special reports, newsletters and other industry content. Business professionals at conference event ## From London to the World Events have become an equally important part of the GDI story. Since launching its conference programme, GDI has brought together founders, CEOs, investors, product leaders and executives from many of the world's leading dating businesses. GDI conferences have been staged across London, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and San Francisco, and has welcomed speakers and attendees from many of the industry's most influential companies. The conferences, networking events and Leaders' Lunches have helped create relationships and conversations across the global dating community. This international presence has established GDI as a central hub for industry professionals worldwide. The platform has become essential for anyone looking to understand and participate in the online dating sector. > What began as a specialist news website has since developed into an international media and events business, covering the companies, entrepreneurs, investors, technologies and trends shaping the global dating sector. ## The First Industry Insights Group Brand GDI was also the first media brand within Industry Insights Group (IIG), the specialist B2B media group founded by Corbett. The success of GDI helped establish the model that IIG has subsequently developed across a growing portfolio of specialist media brands: combining trusted industry journalism with events, conferences, reports, podcasts and engaged professional communities. The sale of GDI therefore represents not only a new chapter for the brand, but an important milestone in the development of Industry Insights Group. Conference attendees networking and discussing business The acquisition by Courtland Brooks brings together two businesses that have worked closely within the online dating industry for many years. Under the new ownership, Brooks will lead the next stage of GDI's development, building on the publication's editorial heritage, international audience and events platform. This partnership represents a natural evolution for both organizations. ## A Proud Legacy and Bright Future Commenting on the announcement, Simon Corbett, Founder of Global Dating Insights, said: "When I started GDI in 2013, I could never have imagined where it would take us. What began as an idea for a specialist industry news website grew into a global community, with conferences around the world, thousands of stories published and relationships with some incredible entrepreneurs and businesses." "I'm enormously proud of what we've achieved over the past 13 years and particularly grateful to every editor, journalist, salesperson and member of the GDI team who has helped build the business, as well as all of the speakers, sponsors, partners and readers who have supported us," Corbett continued. He emphasized the collaborative effort that made GDI's success possible. The team's dedication and the community's support were instrumental in building the platform's reputation. > GDI also has a special place in the story of Industry Insights Group. It was our first media brand and ultimately helped create the foundations for the business we have today. "We've since built IIG into a growing portfolio of eight specialist B2B media brands across a number of industries, but GDI was where that journey began," Corbett explained. "It proved that there was an opportunity to build valuable media businesses around highly engaged specialist communities, combining great journalism with events, reports, podcasts and other products." The model pioneered by GDI has become the blueprint for IIG's expansion strategy. Speaker presenting at business conference ## The Right Time for Change "Mark has been part of the online dating industry for many years and knows both GDI and the wider market extremely well. That made Courtland Brooks a natural home for the business," Corbett said. "I'm very happy to be handing GDI over to Mark and I'm genuinely excited to see what he does with it next." "For me, it's also a proud moment to see the first brand in the IIG portfolio successfully move into new ownership," Corbett added. "It feels like the right time for GDI to begin its next chapter, while we continue building the next chapter of Industry Insights Group." The transition represents a strategic evolution for both organizations. Mark Brooks, Founder and CEO of Courtland Brooks, said: "The acquisition comes as the global online dating sector enters another period of significant change, with AI, regulation, trust and safety, new approaches to monetisation and industry consolidation reshaping the market. GDI will continue to cover those developments and provide a platform for the executives, entrepreneurs and companies building the next generation of dating and social discovery businesses." For Corbett, the transaction brings to a close a remarkable 13-year journey at the helm of Global Dating Insights. For GDI, it marks the beginning of the next one. The platform is positioned to continue its influential role in the online dating industry under new leadership. - Mark Brooks and Courtland Brooks will lead GDI into a new era as the online dating industry faces transformation through AI, regulation, and consolidation - The acquisition represents a successful exit for Industry Insights Group's first media brand while validating the specialist B2B media model that combines journalism, events, and community engagement - GDI will continue serving as the primary platform for executives, entrepreneurs and companies building the next generation of dating and social discovery businesses Published by High Intent (High Intent Media Inc). Citation permitted with a link to the source URL above.