Mary Gu Shuhang named CAA China chief exec

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has appointed Mary Gu Shuhang, a veteran sports exec who most recently headed up the Special Olympics in east Asia, as CEO of its newly formed CAA China division.

CAA has been active in China since 2005, when it opened an office in Beijing, and has invested more than US$400 million into English-language content, mostly film. The launch of a dedicated Chinese division, a joint venture with private-equity firm CMC Capital Partners, was announced in April.

In her new role, Gu (pictured) will build on “CAA’s 12 years of experience in the region to further its efforts in sports services, branded content, live events, television and music touring, while continuing to foster its market leadership in motion pictures and film finance, throughout Greater China [China plus Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan],” says the agency.

Gu comes to CAA China from Special Olympics International, where she was regional president and managing director for east Asia. Prior to that, she was president of the Shanghai corporate pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 and is a co-founder of track-and-field event Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

“I am honoured to join CAA China … at this very important moment in the company’s growth plan”

“I have tremendous respect for the business CAA has built in China, and am honoured to join CAA China under the visionary leadership of [CAA president] Richard Lovett and [CMC founder] Li Ruigang at this very important moment in the company’s growth plan,” she says.

“I look forward to utilising my network of relationships and in-market experience to help create new opportunities for the agency and our clients in an array of new business areas, while working closely with Jonah [Greenberg, CAA China’s head of film], Roeg [Sutherland, co-head of CAA’s global film finance and sales group] and the team to continue to nurture our thriving motion picture business throughout the region.”

Greenberg adds: “I have admired Mary since first meeting her 10 years ago through our work with the Special Olympics. We have done a lot together over the years and I could not be more excited to welcome her to the CAA family.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.