UTA has taken the step of becoming not only a new literary and talented force in Hollywood, but also a more global agency.
The agency, seen as lagging behind the CAA and WME in scale, acquires the Curtis Brown Group, the UK’s largest literary agency, which is home to authors such as Margaret Atwood and the estates of John Le Carr and Ian Fleming. She also stars in some of the biggest names in acting, including Lily James and Alicia Vikander, with her talented affiliate Tavistock Wood.
The companies said the deal, based in London-based Kurt Brown, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including Chief Executive Johnny Geller. This will allow UTA and Kurt Brown to continue their long-lasting and fruitful relationships with other partner agencies in the UK and US.
However, the deal makes the UK agency the largest representation company to join Hollywood’s leading agency and gives UTA significant power in the UK literary space and market, as well as having a talent infusion agency. active.
In announcing the deal, the companies said the merger was “driven by a common desire to provide more opportunities for customers in a growing global entertainment and culture landscape where traditional buyers and distributors such as studios and streaming services are expanding beyond your home. Markets.”
The Alliance provides the Kurt Brown Group with resources to continue its business and utilize UTA’s expertise in a wide range of opportunities in areas such as branding, podcasts, digital talent, sponsorship, media rights, data analytics and more.
UTA has started buying in recent months, buying strategic consulting firm Medialink for $125 million in December and starting data mining and analytics firm Mediahound this month.
Kurt Brown has also grown up in recent years, expanding beyond his literary roots to film and film. He chose Markham Froggatt & Irwin in 2020, Tavistock Wood in 2018, Ed Victor in 2017 and C&W in 2013.
“This is a step towards the end of the global entertainment business and our united determination to ensure that artists and creators remain at the center of future opportunities,” said David Kramer, co-president of UTA. “UTA and Curtis Brown Group have known and worked together for years, and we couldn’t be more excited to take this step together at a time when the UK’s creative industries are thriving. For UTA, this is down to Kurt Brown’s leadership, his deep roots in the UK, his deep respect for the team they’ve built and the company culture. “We are coming together to ensure that the Kurt Brown business and team, and the way they do business in the markets they know best, continues to thrive and grow.”
Said Geller, “We have long been fascinated by the leadership of David Kramer of UTA and its CEO, Jeremy Zimmer. Kurt Brown’s deep knowledge of the European market, combined with his culture of collaboration and innovation, offers our company and our customers a number of great opportunities. This association will allow Kurt Brown to grow and respond to the demands of a growing globalized world. We have always prided ourselves on our ability to nurture new talent across all our departments and ensure an open and inclusive culture, and we look forward to starting a new chapter in the 123-year history of this wonderful company.
According to the statement, no Personnel cuts are expected due to the deal. Kurt Brown has over 240 employees and is expected to continue to grow. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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