From a basement in Quebec to a global IT powerhouse

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1976, Serge Godin ran a fledgling consulting firm from his basement using just a single telephone. Decades later, that small Canadian operation has expanded into a multinational giant, managing everything from satellite software to the digital infrastructure of national governments.

Founded on June 15, 1976, in Quebec City, CGI began with a single client and a modest revenue of $138,000 by the end of its first year. The company's name, originally 'Conseillers en gestion et informatique,' has since evolved in English-speaking markets to represent 'Consultants to Government and Industry.' Through a series of strategic acquisitions—including the $438 million purchase of IMRGlobal in 2001 and the £1.7 billion acquisition of Logica in 2012—the firm transformed from a local consultancy into a global leader in IT services.

Today, the company operates in over 40 countries with roughly 94,000 employees across 400 offices. Its reach is vast, providing software for over 200 satellites and managing critical infrastructure for the U.S. Army and various European institutions. However, this massive scale has not been without significant public friction. The firm has faced intense scrutiny following high-profile project failures, such as the launch of the HealthCare.gov website, which suffered from severe technical issues and missed deadlines.

The company's relationship with government entities is a complex tapestry of essential service and political controversy. While CGI's systems have been credited with increasing tax collections in Hawaii by $66 million, the firm has also been the subject of audits regarding noncompetitive contracts and project delays in Ontario. Despite these challenges, CGI remains a dominant force in the global market, maintaining a primary listing on the Toronto Stock and a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

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