Our history
In 2002, a university student was tasked with producing as much information as possible about the owner of a randomly selected car in Stockholm. The student was amazed at the detailed picture that emerged about the unsuspecting car owner thanks to Sweden’s generous rules regarding the public’s right to access to government documents and records.
The original idea was to offer staffing companies background checks on final candidates for high-ranking positions. Soon thereafter it became clear there was another industry that understood the value of background checks - private equity. Many in the industry had worked previously in London and New York, where it was standard practice to carry out background checks of key people in connection with acquisitions.
Over the years, Look Closer has attracted a number of exceptional employees. Their curiosity, diligence, and dedication to identifying the most important pieces of the puzzle has laid the foundation for our success. We come from different countries and backgrounds but are united in our belief in what it takes to be a leader in our field: the constant development of ourselves, our skills, and our services.
We live by our core values: quality, conscientiousness, integrity, and collegiality.
Look Closer has no external shareholders. That’s important to us as it means we are in charge of our own development and can focus on quality rather than quantity. We sometimes reject certain assignments, but on the other hand, we are very loyal to those we’ve chosen to work with. We are proud that so many of the clients we began collaborating with during the company's first decade remain our partners to this day.
Today, Look Closer is the leading Integrity Due Diligence advisor in the Nordic region. More and more industries are realising the importance of conducting in-depth background checks. Increased globalisation also means that more assignments now have an international dimension. Look Closer has also changed. The organisation has matured and gained a clearer structure that allows us to meet our clients' high demands no matter where in the world our services are needed. Although we have evolved and grown over the years, the same curiosity, commitment, and diligence still characterises the business – the thrill of finding that crucial microfilm in a dusty archive somewhere in Sweden with information that could change everything.
Management
International reach
A majority of our assignments today involve in-depth background checks outside Sweden. We regularly investigate both companies and key people and can start new assignments all over the world on short notice. Our international investigations are coordinated from our office in Stockholm to ensure the highest quality delivery.
Look Closer has an extensive international network of partners based on long-term relationships. Our ambition is to work with the best in each country. Our partners have access to local contacts and sources who know how to retrieve information in accordance with local laws and regulations. They have a deep knowledge of each country and help us interpret and understand the information that emerges from a local cultural perspective. Something that is unusual in Sweden might be standard practice in another part of the world. This means that you as a client can assess the information in an appropriate context.
For in-depth background checks of people with an international career, or Integrity Due Diligence of companies with operations in several countries, we put together a team with skills from each country under the leadership of Look Closer in Sweden.