UTA announces 26-strong partner class
UTA has announced the largest partner class in its 31-year history, elevating 26 team members across more than 15 divisions.
Music agents Mike “G” Guirguis, Jbeau Lewis and Matthew Morgan have both been promoted to partner alongside the company’s co-head of music brand partnerships Toni Wallace and Joe Kessler, global head of the firm’s UTA IQ research, data and analytics department.
The class also includes three recently announced partners with Stefanie Liquori as general counsel, Carmen Bona as chief strategy and corporate development officer and Richard Siklos as chief communications officer.
“These colleagues’ leadership, hard work, mentorship and dedication helps push our business forward every day”
“As UTA has grown, these colleagues’ leadership, hard work, mentorship and dedication helps push our business forward every day,” says UTA co-president David Kramer. “This partner class encompasses a wide range of expertise and backgrounds and reflects our commitment to providing clients with best-in-class representation and resources across all areas of the company.”
The new partners also include agents and executives from UTA’s motion picture literary and talent groups, unscripted television, ventures, production arts, sports, MediaLink, media rights, UTA Speakers and digital talent, as well as corporate functions such as legal and human resources.
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Agency trio bound for UTA
WME agents Marissa Smith, Matthew Morgan and Buster Phillips have reportedly left the company and are set to join former colleague Scott Clayton at UTA.
All three were previously based in Nashville with Clayton, who was unveiled as UTA’s latest co-head of global music earlier this month, forming a powerhouse leadership trio with existing co-heads Sam Kirby Yoh and David Zedeck, spanning UTA’s New York, Los Angeles and Nashville hubs.
The agency veteran was previously a partner and co-head of the music division at WME, and has guided the live careers of artists including John Mayer, Zac Brown Band, Kings of Leon, Dead & Company and Train.
The development follows a series of major moves by UTA’s music division
Smith had served as an assistant to Clayton and was responsible for booking concerts at colleges and universities along the US East Coast. She was also the company’s first social action music agent and headed up the music department’s virtual appearance group.
Both Morgan, who has worked with the likes of Lizzo, and rock agent Phillips came over to WME from CAA with Clayton in 2017. News of the trio’s departure from WME and impending move to UTA was first reported by Variety.
The development follows a series of major moves by UTA’s music division, where recent hires include agents Jeffrey Hasson, Brett Saliba, Matt Korn, Matt Meyer, Robbie Brown, Rebecca Prochnik, Carlos Abreu and Max Lee.
In March, the firm also acquired UK-based Echo Location Talent Agency, founded and led by Obi Asika, who now serves as co-head of UTA’s UK office alongside Neil Warnock.
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Matthew Morgan follows Scott Clayton to WME Nashville
Update (28 Nov): As expected, Buster Phillips has also joined WME, the agency confirmed today.
Matthew Morgan has become the second CAA Nashville booking agent this week to make the move to rival agency WME.
Morgan, who was previously co-head of Creative Artists Agency (CAA)’s festival department, joins Scott Clayton at WME’s Nashville, Tennessee, office, where he will serve as a music agent.
Morgan (pictured) joined CAA in 2004 and has worked with acts as diverse at Gavin DeGraw, Pussy Riot, the Script, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Zac Brown Band and Rival Sons. It is not yet known which, if any, acts will join him at William Morris Endeavor (WME)..
A third CAA Nashville agent, Buster Phillips, is also understood to have left the company, although WME has not revealed if he is similarly making the switch.
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