Ben Holland In the ever-evolving world of education, few names carry as much weight as McGraw Hill. For over a century, this powerhouse has been synonymous with innovative textbooks, cutting-edge digital learning platforms, and comprehensive resources that empower students, educators, and professionals worldwide. But who exactly is behind McGraw Hill? From its humble beginnings in the late 19th century to its current status as a publicly traded leader in edtech, the story of McGraw Hill is one of visionary founders, strategic mergers, bold acquisitions, and resilient leadership. This article delves into the individuals, families, and investment firms that have shaped McGraw Hill into the global education giant it is today, highlighting key milestones and the driving forces behind its success.
Understanding the people and entities behind McGraw Hill isn’t just about history—it’s about recognizing how their decisions continue to influence modern learning. Whether you’re a student searching for reliable study materials, an educator exploring adaptive tech tools, or a professional curious about the education industry’s backbone, this exploration reveals the human element propelling McGraw Hill forward. Let’s trace the journey from its founding roots to its latest innovations.
The Visionary Founders: James H. McGraw and John A. Hill
At the heart of McGraw Hill’s legacy are two pioneering figures whose entrepreneurial spirit laid the groundwork for an empire in technical and educational publishing. James Herbert McGraw, born in 1860 in Harmony, New York, began his career as a schoolteacher before venturing into journalism. In 1888, at the age of 28, McGraw made his first bold move by purchasing the American Journal of Railway Appliances, a niche publication catering to the burgeoning rail industry during America’s industrial boom. This acquisition marked the inception of what would become a publishing dynasty, as McGraw recognized the growing demand for specialized knowledge in engineering and transportation.
McGraw’s ambition didn’t stop there. By 1899, he had formally established The McGraw Publishing Company, focusing on technical books and periodicals that bridged the gap between academia and industry. His vision was clear: to democratize access to practical, expert-driven information that could fuel innovation and professional growth. McGraw’s publications quickly gained traction, serving engineers, machinists, and business leaders eager for insights into emerging technologies like electricity and mechanics.
Enter John A. Hill, the complementary force whose technical expertise and publishing savvy would forge an enduring partnership. Born in 1858, Hill was a multifaceted innovator—a typesetter, silver prospector, newspaper publisher, and railroad engineer. By the 1880s, he had contributed articles on railroading to American Machinist, catching the eye of its publisher. In 1888, when the magazine launched Locomotive Engineering, Hill was tapped as editor, eventually becoming a part owner by 1889. By 1897, he had full control of American Machinist and founded the American Machinist Press in 1898. Two years later, in 1902, Hill incorporated The Hill Publishing Company, expanding into titles like Power, Engineering and Mining Journal, and Engineering News. These publications targeted the practical needs of industrial professionals, emphasizing real-world applications over abstract theory.
The synergy between McGraw and Hill was inevitable. In 1909, they merged their book departments to create The McGraw-Hill Book Company, with Hill as president and McGraw as vice president. This alliance pooled their strengths: McGraw’s educational focus and Hill’s technical depth. Their first major release, The Art of Engineering in 1910, launched the Electrical Engineering Texts series, setting a standard for accessible, high-quality technical literature. Tragically, Hill passed away in 1916 at age 57, but the momentum carried forward. In 1917, the full companies merged into The McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc., with McGraw at the helm as president until 1928.
These founders weren’t just publishers; they were educators at heart. McGraw, who died in 1948, left a family legacy that intertwined with the company for generations. His great-grandson, Harold “Terry” McGraw III, would later serve as chairman and CEO, embodying the founder’s commitment to knowledge dissemination. Today, as educators grapple with hybrid learning environments, it’s worth noting how McGraw and Hill’s emphasis on practical, industry-relevant content foreshadowed the adaptive tools that define modern McGraw Hill products.
The McGraw Family’s Enduring Influence and Key Milestones
The McGraw family’s stewardship was pivotal in transforming McGraw Hill from a niche publisher into a diversified conglomerate. Under James H. McGraw’s leadership post-merger, the company expanded aggressively. By the 1920s, it had acquired the Newton Falls Paper Company in 1920 and the A.W. Shaw Company in 1928, broadening into business and management publishing. The 1950s brought further growth with the Gregg Company acquisition, bolstering vocational education materials.
Harold McGraw, James’s son, took the reins in the mid-20th century, navigating the company through World War II and into the postwar boom. A defining moment came in 1979 when American Express attempted a hostile takeover. Led by Harold McGraw (James’s grandson), the family mounted a fierce defense, leveraging legal actions and shareholder loyalty to repel the bid. This victory preserved family control and underscored their dedication to the company’s mission.
The 1980s and 1990s marked explosive expansion. In 1986, McGraw-Hill acquired The Economy Company, catapulting it to the nation’s largest educational publisher. A 1989 joint venture with Robert Maxwell created the second-largest U.S. textbook publisher, though McGraw-Hill assumed full ownership in 1993 after Maxwell’s death. Harold “Terry” McGraw III ascended to CEO in 1998, guiding the firm through digital transitions. Under his watch, the company launched online platforms and acquired entities like Times Mirror Higher Education in 1996 and Appleton & Lange from Pearson in 1999.
By the early 2000s, McGraw-Hill had become a behemoth, but strategic refocusing was needed. In 2011, it sold its broadcasting division for $212 million, streamlining operations. The 2012 spin-off of the education unit as McGraw-Hill Education paved the way for its independent trajectory, allowing the parent (renamed McGraw Hill Financial, now S&P Global) to concentrate on financial services.
These milestones reflect the McGraw family’s philosophy: adapt or perish. Their influence lingers in the company’s ethos of trusted, outcome-focused content, even as ownership evolved.
Ownership Evolution: From Family Control to Private Equity and Public Markets
McGraw Hill’s ownership story is a tale of adaptation to market demands. Until 2013, it remained under the McGraw family’s indirect influence via the broader conglomerate. That year, Apollo Global Management, a leading alternative asset manager founded in 1990 by Leon Black, Josh Harris, and Marc Rowan, acquired McGraw-Hill Education for $2.4 billion in cash. Apollo, with over $840 billion in assets under management as of 2025, saw untapped potential in the education sector’s digital shift. Under Apollo’s stewardship, McGraw Hill transformed: digital revenue surged from less than 25% to over 60% of total billings by 2021, fueled by six key acquisitions like ALEKS in 2013 and Engrade in 2014.
Apollo’s era wasn’t without challenges. A proposed 2019 merger with Cengage was scrapped in 2020 due to U.S. Department of Justice antitrust concerns. Nonetheless, the firm positioned McGraw Hill as an edtech leader, emphasizing AI-driven personalization and global reach.
In 2021, Apollo sold McGraw Hill to Platinum Equity, another private equity titan founded by Tom Gores in 1995, for $4.5 billion. Platinum, managing over $25 billion in assets, continued the digital momentum, acquiring Achieve3000 and Kidaptive that year. Simon Allen, who became CEO in 2020, and his team led the transition seamlessly, maintaining focus on learner outcomes.
The latest chapter unfolded in March 2025, when McGraw Hill went public on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker “MH,” with a market cap of approximately $2.48 billion. This IPO marked a return to broader shareholder ownership while retaining Platinum’s strategic oversight. Today, institutional investors and the public hold significant stakes, but the company’s core remains guided by its mission to unlock learner potential.
Current Leadership: Simon Allen and the Executive Team Driving Innovation
Behind McGraw Hill’s day-to-day operations is a dynamic leadership team blending education expertise with tech savvy. At the forefront is Simon Allen, Chairman, President, and CEO since May 2020 (interim from October 2019). Allen, a veteran of the publishing world, rejoined McGraw Hill in 2018 after stints at Macmillan Education (CEO until 2016), Pearson, and the original McGraw-Hill Companies. With a BA from Middlesex University and executive training from London Business School, Allen has spearheaded the shift to blended learning, overseeing launches like ALEKS Adventure (an AI math program for K-3) in 2024 and generative AI tools in August 2024.
Supporting Allen is a robust executive cadre:
- Robert Sallmann, EVP and CFO, managing finances amid digital growth.
- Tracey Tiska, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, fostering a culture of innovation.
- David Stafford, EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary, navigating regulatory landscapes.
- Sean Ryan, President of the School Group, focusing on K-12 solutions.
- Michael Ryan, President of Higher Education, driving adaptive platforms.
- Anthony Lorin, President of International, expanding to over 100 countries.
- Scott Grillo, President of Global Professional, targeting career training.
- Catherine McManus, Chief Communications Officer, amplifying the brand.
- David Cortese, EVP and Chief Digital Information Officer, powering tech infrastructure.
- Nathan Olson, SVP of Digital Platform Group Operations, optimizing user experiences.
This team’s collaborative approach has propelled McGraw Hill’s Evergreen™ Delivery Model (launched October 2024), ditching rigid textbook cycles for continuous updates. Recent moves, like acquiring Essaypop in March 2025, underscore their commitment to writing and critical thinking tools.
McGraw Hill Today: A Global Force in Adaptive Learning
Under current stewardship, McGraw Hill serves millions across preK-12, higher education, and professional sectors. With over 30 offices worldwide and content in 80+ languages, it reaches 250,000 instructors and 13,000 U.S. school districts. Digital solutions like McGraw Hill GO (2023) and partnerships with Illustrative Mathematics (2020) exemplify its learner-centric ethos. Revenue hit $2.11 billion in the trailing twelve months as of August 2025, with stock at $13.01.
The influencers behind McGraw Hill—founders, family, investors, and executives—have collectively built a resilient entity. As education faces AI disruptions and equity challenges, their legacy ensures McGraw Hill remains a beacon of progress.
References
- McGraw Hill Education. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.mheducation.com/about-us
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025). McGraw Hill Education. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGraw_Hill_Education
- Zippia. (2023). McGraw Hill History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones. Retrieved from https://www.zippia.com/mcgraw-hill-education-careers-30768/history/
- Platinum Equity. (2021). Platinum Equity Completes Acquisition of McGraw Hill for $4.5 Billion. Retrieved from https://www.mheducation.com/about-us/news-insights/press-releases/platinum-equity-acquires-mcgraw-hill.html
- McGraw Hill. (2020). McGraw-Hill Names Simon Allen CEO. Retrieved from https://www.mheducation.com/about-us/news-insights/press-releases/mcgraw-hill-names-simon-allen-ceo.html
