UTA names Obi Asika among five new music partners
United Talent Agency (UTA) has promoted five music agents to partner, including UK office co-head Obi Asika.
The company acquired Asika’s Echo Location Talent Agency back in 2021, in a deal that saw him assume the role of co-head of UTA’s London office alongside Neil Warnock. Asika is also co-founder of festival brand Afro Nation.
UTA has also named US-based music agents Kevin Gimble, Steve Gordon, Jeffrey Hasson and Matt Meyer among 24 new partners, spanning talent, publishing, comedy touring, executive search, endorsements & voiceover, MediaLink and KLUTCH Sports Group.
“Each of these new partners embodies UTA’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration”
“Each of these new partners embodies UTA’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration, which translates into impeccable service for our clients,” says UTA president David Kramer. “We are thrilled to welcome them to the UTA partnership. I’m especially encouraged to see the wide variety of newer departments and businesses this group of partners hails from, reflecting the success of our expansion and diversification strategy over the past several years.”
Other new partners include Dan Constable (endorsements & voiceover), Devrie DeMarco (MediaLink), Doug Edley (comedy touring), Roysi Erbes (UTA executive search), Heidi Feigin (comedy touring), Andrew Feinberg (KLUTCH Sports Group), Christy Fletcher (publishing), Michele James (UTA executive search), Damon Lau (UTA Creators) and Byrd Leavell (publishing).
The list is completed by Albert Lee (publishing), Nicole Lynn (KLUTCH Sports Group), Nigel Meiojas (talent), Brian Nossokoff (talent), Jennifer Palacios (entertainment & culture marketing), Andrea Kerr Redniss, Donna Sharp, Christopher Vollmer and Mark Wagman (all MediaLink).
UTA has promoted almost 130 people over the past year. As part of the firm’s multi-year expansion strategy, recent acquisitions have included sports agency Rep 1 Baseball and One Legacy Sports Management by KLUTCH, Gen Z-focused JUV Consulting, literary agency Fletcher & Co. and executive search firm James & Co. The company has also opened new offices in Atlanta and expanded its presence in London.
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UTA hosts gala opening for new London office
Leading global talent agency UTA has marked the opening of its new London office with a gala opening event attended by clients and industry leaders.
Designed by award-winning architectural firms Gensler and Modus Workspace, the 28,000 sq ft space occupies two floors at One Newman Street W1, at the intersection of Fitzrovia and Soho.
The site will house the company’s music department and other divisions, and is close to Cunard House, the new home of UK talent and literary agency, Curtis Brown Group, which became part of UTA last year.
“This expansion reflects UTA’s growing investment in bringing UK and European clients more opportunities to make an impact around the world
“London is one of the world’s great cultural and commercial centres, and this expansion reflects UTA’s growing investment in bringing UK and European clients more opportunities to make an impact around the world,” says Jeremy Zimmer, CEO and co-founder of UTA. “We’re excited to move into our new London home, creating a vibrant hub for our expanding team and range of capabilities across entertainment, sports and business.”
UTA’s London office will continue to be co-led by music agents Neil Warnock MBE and Obi Asika. The firm first established a presence in London with its 2015 acquisition of The Agency Group, and swooped for London-based Echo Location Talent Agency in 2021.
Speaking to Variety, UTA president David Kramer says the firm plans to maintain its co-agent relationships “with the biggest and smallest agencies” in the UK.
“We realise the importance of the UK market and the talent that comes out of that market and the agent’s right to represent that talent at the very beginning of their career,” says Kramer. “We feel it’s a privilege to get the right to represent with those partners. So, we are very careful about making sure they feel completely in the loop on everything we’re doing. And they do the same for us.”
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UTA announces huge round of promotions
Leading global talent agency UTA has announced 65 promotions across 20 departments.
The promotions encompass an array of divisions, including Music, Motion Picture Literary, Unscripted Television, Klutch Sports Group, Production Arts, UTA Entertainment & Culture Marketing, Media Rights, MediaLink, Endorsements & Voiceover, IQ, Brand Studio, Business Affairs, Corporate Strategy, Culture & Leadership, Finance & Accounting, Fine Arts, Information Technology, People, Theatre, and UTA Speakers.
Those newly elevated in music include London-based agent Sean Hendrie and coordinators Jack Benson, Eli Hanavan, Maria Kanatous, Elie Low, Cassie Trimble and Sydney Wilke.
“These promotions reflect our longstanding tradition of investing in our people”
“These promotions reflect our longstanding tradition of investing in our people,” says UTA president David Kramer. “As UTA continues to aggressively expand our footprint and our offerings to clients, I’m excited to recognise our colleagues who make our exceptional service to clients possible every day.”
The majority of those promoted to agent came up through UTA’s agent training programme. Women constituted more than 50% of the promotions announced, while more than 30% of those elevated identify as people of colour.
The promotions come amid a period of substantial growth and diversification for UTA. Over the past two years, highlights have included UTA’s acquisition of MediaLink, its acquisition of leading UK talent and publishing agency Curtis Brown Group, the purchase of publishing agency Fletcher & Co., and a strategic partnership with global investment firm EQT.
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UTA announces huge round of promotions
Leading global talent, entertainment and sports agency UTA has elevated 67 colleagues across 27 divisions in its latest round of promotions.
US-based Mackenzie Coberley (coordinator), Brennan Duffy (agent), Noah Friedlander (agent), Alana Gitt (agent), Akhil Hegde (agent), Lauren Holland (agent), Alexis Lesko (coordinator), Gabriella Librizzi (coordinator), Lauren McClusky (coordinator) and Hope Murray (coordinator) have all been upped in the firm’s music department.
The promotions recognise contributions at various levels of the company, and also include departments such as motion picture literary, news & broadcasting, production, publishing, talent, theatre, television literary, television talent, Asian business
development, audio, brand studio, comedy touring, communications, digital talent, endorsements & voiceover, finance & accounting, fine arts, gaming & Esports, HR, IT, IQ, media rights, MediaLink, UTA Foundation, Ventures and Web 3.0.
“Providing opportunities for advancement is core to our culture, and we are proud to share in this group’s success”
“Over the past year, UTA has accelerated our momentum with new acquisitions, investments in our client capabilities, and key hires,” says UTA president David Kramer. “This growth could not be possible without the hard work, ambition, and collaborative nature of the colleagues we promoted today. Providing opportunities for advancement is core to our culture, and we are proud to share in this group’s success and excited to see what their next chapters at UTA will bring.”
The promotions represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and include over 60% who identify as women and 35% who identify as people of colour, while 80% of those promoted to agent started their careers in UTA’s agent training programme.
Earlier this year, UTA announced its largest partner class ever-elevating 26 partners across 15 divisions.
The promotions come amidst a time of substantial development and growth for UTA. In July, it confirmed a strategic partnership with global investment firm EQT Private Equity and recently announced the acquisitions of literary and talent group Curtis Brown Group and software and data analytics company MediaHound.
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UTA promotes David Kramer and Jay Sures
Talent agency UTA has announced two major promotions, elevating David Kramer to president and Jay Sures to vice-chair.
The US-based duo have served as co-presidents of the company since 2017.
In an internal email seen by Deadline, UTA co-founder and CEO Jeremy Zimmer says Kramer’s promotion “acknowledges the important role he serves as my close strategic partner, leader of a large part of UTA’s operations, and forward-thinking business builder”.
“Again and again, David has been a trusted ally to clients and a passionate champion of our people and our culture,” says Zimmer. “Having David as our president underscores my confidence in the future direction and stewardship of our business.”
Sures, meanwhile, is hailed by Zimmer as “the ultimate power player”.
“We will rely even more on Jay’s unique blend of instincts, intelligence, deep connections, and external relationships”
“He has played a major role in systematically building our television group, including literary and talent, into an industry leader while representing a wide roster of clients,” he says. “He also oversees, and continues to grow, our news, speakers, and culture and leadership groups. As vice-chairman, we will rely even more on Jay’s unique blend of instincts, intelligence, deep connections, and external relationships to continue to drive our business forward across many dimensions.”
Earlier this summer, Kramer led UTA’s acquisition of UK agency Curtis Brown and played a key role bringing in global finance firm EQT as UTA’s largest outside investor.
Sures, meanwhile, has helped build the agency’s TV group and oversees UTA’s news, speakers and culture and leadership businesses.
will enable both executives to focus on their respective strengths. were confirmed days after UTA announced the hiring of veteran music agent Scott Mantell, who most recently served as a partner and co-head of international touring at ICM.
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UTA announces 50+ promotions
UTA has announced 54 promotions across more than 20 divisions in multiple offices.
The promotions encompass employees at various levels of the talent agency and come across several divisions including the first-ever promotion within the web 3.0 department.
In the music department, London-based Christina Austin and Nashville-based Kyle Levinsohn have been upped to agent and London-based Sean Hill to senior director. Coordinators Lauren Holland, Tom Matthews, Harriet Quare and Zoe Swindells have also been elevated.
“This is a group that has demonstrated thought leadership, outstanding performance and commitment to our company”
“As UTA continues to expand and thrive, we are consistently impressed by our colleagues’ work ethic, collaborative spirit and resilience,” says UTA co-president David Kramer. “This is a group who has demonstrated thought leadership, outstanding performance and commitment to our company, and we are looking forward to seeing what they do in their new roles.”
UTA announced more than 100 promotions in total over the past year. As part of its commitment to employee development, the company also recently implemented a wage increase for participants in UTA’s agent training programme.
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UTA promotes trio of music agents
Leading agency UTA has announced 50 promotions across 20 divisions in multiple offices, including three in its music department.
The promotions encompass employees at various levels of the company and represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences across gender and ethnicity. In addition, more than 90% of those promoted to agent and over 80% of those promoted to coordinator started their careers in the Agent Training Program, and over 80% of those promoted to executive started as assistant.
Nikos Kazoleas, Alaina Latona and James Osgood have been elevated to music agents, with Brennan Duffy, Shaq Millington and Jamie Waldman becoming coordinators.
We are grateful for our colleagues’ dedication and resilience as UTA continues to succeed in an evolving business landscape
“We are grateful for our colleagues’ dedication and resilience as UTA continues to succeed in an evolving business landscape,” says UTA co-president David Kramer. “We look forward to seeing all of the great achievements this group will continue to accomplish in their new roles as the company innovates, expands and flourishes.”
The promotions have arisen during a period of significant growth for the company. Most recently, UTA and its partner company Klutch Sports Group established a full-service base of operations in Atlanta. UTA also plans to establish a second UTA artist space gallery in its new Atlanta offices.
The agency also announced the opening of its new Nashville headquarters earlier this year.
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UTA announces agent, exec promotions
Beverly Hills-based United Talent Agency (UTA) has promoted nine agents and five executives across seven divisions in its Los Angeles, New York and London offices.
Tessie Lammle (pictured), James Masters (pictured), Daniel McCartney (pictured), Ron Perks, Angie Rance (pictured) and Chris Visconti are new agents in the music division.
Elsewhere, UTA gained new agents in the television talent, independent film and speakers departments.
Allyson Chung and Ally Diamond are now executives in the UTA Foundation, with Rachel Hall and Caroline Long being promoted to executive level in the marketing division and Brendan Mulroy becoming an executive in UTA IQ.
“We’re pleased that the vast majority of our new agents and executives began their careers at UTA as assistants”
UTA also announced that 12 new coordinators have been named across its Los Angeles, New York and London offices in music, speakers, fine arts, independent film, emerging platforms, video games, corporate communications, digital talent and brand partnerships.
“We’re incredibly proud of this outstanding group of colleagues,” says UTA’s co-president David Kramer. “Each of them personifies exceptional performance and commitment to client service.
“We’re especially pleased that the vast majority of our new agents and executives began their careers at UTA as assistants, which is a reflection of our commitment to developing and fostering the growth of young professionals. As we continue to grow all aspects of our business, they will all play an integral role in driving our future success.”
The promotions follow the recent appointment of former Maverick management executive Alisann Blood as co-head of music brand partnerships at UTA.
Pictured (l to r): Top – Allyson Chung, Lucas Barnes, Tessie Lammle, James Masters; bottom – Angie Rance, Daniel McCartney, Kristen Sena, John McGrath
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United Talent Agency appoints new co-presidents
David Kramer and Jay Sures have been promoted to co-presidents of United Talent Agency (UTA).
Kramer, who oversees who UTA’s film, comedy touring, licensing and publishing activities, and Sures, who heads up its television departments, both began their careers as assistants to agency co-founder Peter Benedek, and have since 2010 served as joint managing directors.
“Jay and David embody the greatest parts of UTA, and I couldn’t ask for better, smarter or more creative partners,” says Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of Beverly Hills-based UTA. As UTA continues to grow and pursue new ventures, partnerships and acquisitions, these titles are a more appropriate reflection of their central roles and what’s next for UTA as an entertainment company.”
“We’ve loved working and growing the business together, and we look forward to continuing that work”
In a joint statement, Kramer and Sures add: “As we continue to expand and evolve into a truly diverse entertainment company, artists and creators remain at the centre of everything we do.
“For us, this partnership has worked so well for so long because it’s always been more than just a professional experience. We’ve loved working and growing the business together, and we look forward to continuing that work with our fellow board members, partners and everyone across the agency.”
UTA in July brought in David Zedeck, formerly of Live Nation, as head of music.
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