Keith Gerson, CFE

Chief Executive Officer, Gerson Advisory Services

Keith Gerson, CFE, is one of the best-known experts in the world of franchising, and is well known for his thought-leadership and expertise. Keith brings 50 years of franchising expertise to Gerson Advisory Services (GAS), offering unparalleled insights and strategic guidance for franchisors. As President & CEO, Keith’s leadership and visionary approach have shaped successful franchise system worldwide.

Gerson has developed a reputation as being a “super-connector” as he has the ability to contact the CEO’s of many of the best known and highest regarded franchisors, and the CEO’s will almost always take his calls. This has served his clients well as he is able to create introductions and bring them into conversations on how these executives have addressed similar challenges.

His webinars consistently attracts thousands of attendees based on the world-class guests and topics that are on the minds of our audiences and his articles in publications such as Franchise Update Magazine, World Franchise Magazine, Franchising.com, etc. have some of the highest read and share rates.

And his work in publishing the FranConnect Franchise Sales Index Report has garnered him a massive following.

Keith’s Recognition

  • 2024: Voted “Top Franchise Consultant” by Franchisors in Entrepreneur Magazine 2024
  • Nominated as a finalist for the Women’s Franchise Committee for the Crystal Compass Award honors for exemplifying leadership.
  • 2020-2024: Voted in as an IFA Franchise Supplier Board Member 2018 – 2024: Board of Advisors at The Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University 2019-2024:
  • Received 1,130 Franchisor Endorsements on LinkedIn
  • 2018-2023: Voted Top Franchise Technology Supplier while serving as President of Franchise Operations at FranConnect
  • 2015: Franchise Times Twenty to Watch: “Franchise Trend Setters” 2015: Executives to Know, 1851 Franchise Magazine

See More: Keith’s Press

Testimonials That Matter

Rob Ristagno, President, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

Rob Ristagno, President, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

President, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

I had the pleasure of working with Keith Gerson on a strategic consulting project aimed at helping our Licensees thrive. Keith got up to speed quickly, rolled up his sleeves, and delivered a thoughtful, practical plan that’s already proving valuable.

He brought deep expertise to the table, but what stood out most was how he organized the facts and translated them into a do-able solution—nothing theoretical or pie-in-the-sky. His recommendations were grounded in reality and addressed the opportunities and challenges we were facing head-on. The final deliverable was well-structured, easy to digest, and ready to implement.

I’d gladly recommend Keith to anyone looking for strategic insight paired with real-world execution.

Jaffrey Ali, FranConnect

Jaffrey Ali, FranConnect

I don’t use this term lightly, but Keith is a 'legend' in the franchise industry. I was very fortunate to work alongside him over the last five years as we grew Franconnect, including the addition of several new products for our customers. Keith's deep understanding of the industry was crucial, enabling me to rely on him not only for insights into the current state of the industry but, more importantly, its future direction. He truly has the pulse of the industry. As Keith moves on to his next role, I am really glad to have his wisdom to count on.

Keith is also very generous with his advice, having helped multiple friends who were looking to enter franchising.

Thank you, Keith. It’s been a pleasure! 🙏

Daniel Stein CEO of Special Strong

Daniel Stein CEO of Special Strong

CEO of specialstrong.com | The Adaptive Coach

“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This is Keith. I was referred to Keith by a mutual friend who knew I needed help in the franchising industry. When I connected with Keith, I planned an initial call to discuss a few pain points. I quickly realized that Keith had a lot of value to add. Instead of simply answering my questions, he helped me uncover areas I didn’t know I needed help in. I ended up asking him to consult with me every month. Working with Keith has been a game changer for our entire company. From franchise development to operations, Keith has guided me in every area I need. With his 30+ years of franchising experience, he knows a lot of key players in the industry, so he has made several vital introductions for me that I would not have been able to make on my own. I feel privileged to have someone of his caliber in my corner, helping me with everything franchising!
Gerry Henley, CFE

Gerry Henley, CFE

We were lucky enough to have Keith as our keynote speaker at our recent annual franchise conference. Keith's message was perfect for our group. We have never had such raving reviews from our franchisees for our keynote presenter. He was able to connect with the franchisees at their level and made them very comfortable. 

Keith's keynote address was certainly the highlight of our conference. 

Thanks Keith!

Joe White, Franchise Consultant

Joe White, Franchise Consultant

In my past, I have known many people who say they are brand marketing experts. Recently, I attended an International franchise Summit in the United Kingdom and had the privilege to hear Keith Gerson yet again perform as a Keynote Speaker as a Franchise Expert on the topic of Franchise Brand Marketing. After the Keynote address, Keith had the time to share some additional insights with me on Franchise Operations and have an even more enriched discussion on Franchise Brand Marketing. I must say Keith is the best expert in the area of franchise brand marketing that I have known. But what is even more amazing is his passion to talk with the guests at the conference. I commend Keith's passion for Brand Marketing and would highly recommend him as a Keynote Speaker at your next franchising event.

Lisa Montanio

Lisa Montanio

“I feel the information you provided validated some of the areas I thought we needed to work on which was great to hear. It was also very helpful to see how we compare to other B2B concepts. I also appreciated the ideas on how to better position some of the advantages of CMIT Solutions versus some of our competitors. It was very helpful for my team members to hear this information firsthand to get a better understanding of the franchise industry and how CMIT Solutions fits in the industry.”
Kevin Wilson

Kevin Wilson

“ I highly recommend Keith for entrepreneurs growing an emerging brand or more mature companies looking for a fresh perspective”.
Jamshaid (Jam) Hashmi

Jamshaid (Jam) Hashmi

“Keith’s presentation opened minds & created a sense of urgency for action”.
Michael Mabry

Michael Mabry

“Keith, I can’t thank you enough for speaking at our MOO Franchisee Conference. As you know, this is our premier franchisee gathering that we host each year, and is our time to shine as a brand. Your keynote was the icing on the cake. Your ability to take our internal message of Simply Better and apply it to our industry, brand, and individual franchisees resonated throughout the room. I personally received more comments and praise on your presentation than any other. The coolest part for me is the fact that you are a brand partner (FranConnect), presenter (keynote), and friend (your wicked piano and singing skills during dinner)! Thank you Keith for making MOOYAH Simply Better!”
Diane Davis

Diane Davis

“Keith Gerson put together a six-page report for us on our competition, and we learned things in one fell swoop that we never would have known. We are now able to look at ourselves compared to the competition and make strategic decisions that are educated in nature. And I just want to say a big thank you to Keith. I would recommend this for anyone in franchising who wants to grow significantly. Understanding your competition and what they’re doing is an important part of what we need to be doing as franchisors. This report has helped us do this and I see us doing this on an ongoing basis. I highly recommend that you take this opportunity and let Gerson Advisory Services to help you out-execute your competition.”
Eric D’Amico

Eric D’Amico

"Keith is a fountain of knowledge regarding the franchising and restaurant space. He was able to quickly and efficiently boil down where gaps were in our disclosure process and how we stacked up against the competition. If I need future counsel as we think through our strategies going forward, Keith will be one of my first calls.”
David McKinnon

David McKinnon

“Under Keith Gerson’s leadership as President and COO, PuroClean became one of the fastest growing franchise systems in North America, literally tripling in size from 92 locations to over 300 in a three year period. Consumer level revenues grew from $46 million to $90 million and profitability of the organization soared 3.5 times. Keith was able to reduce Franchisee attrition rates to an all-time record low, each year besting the one before it. This results in our receiving two world-class Franchisor designations by the Franchise Research Institute during 2007 & 2008. We are grateful to Keith Gerson for the contributions he made to the PuroClean Franchise System.”

Jesse Gerson, Chief Franchise Experience Officer

Jesse Gerson brings proven expertise in transforming franchise relationships through customer-focused strategies that drive measurable results. As our new Chief Customer Experience Officer, Jesse specializes in:

Building Stronger Franchise Partnerships Jesse creates systems that guide franchisees through the critical evolution from dependence to independence to interdependence—where the most successful franchise brands thrive together.

Enhancing Every Touchpoint By identifying friction points and implementing tailored solutions, Jesse ensures both franchisee and customer experiences improve at every stage of their journey with your brand.

Delivering Tangible Outcomes Jesse’s approach leads to what matters most: stronger retention, deeper loyalty, and sustainable growth across your entire franchise system.

With experience across service, technology, and operational environments, Jesse aligns your business objectives with practical strategies that work for both franchisors and franchisees—creating the foundation for lasting success throughout the franchise lifecycle.