The Gersh Agency

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The Gersh Agency
Company type Private
Industry Talent and Literary Agencies
Founded Beverly Hills, California, U.S.(1949)
Headquarters Beverly Hills, California
New York City, New York
Key people
Bob Gersh, David Gersh and Leslie Siebert: Co-presidents [1]
Number of employees
about 600

Gersh (also known as The GershAgency) is a global entertainment and sports agency headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, with offices in New York City, Madrid, and other offices spread across 15 countries. [2]

Contents

Established in 1949 by Phil Gersh, [3] the agency represents a diverse roster of clients across film, television, sports, theater, comedy, branding, publishing, and digital media. The company’s ongoing growth plan makes Gersh the fastest-growing agency in the entertainment industry worldwide. [4]

The company was wholly owned by the Gersh family until 2023 when a minority interest was sold to Crestview Partners, a private equity company. The agency is currently run by co-presidents Bob and David Gersh, and Leslie Siebert. [5]

History

Gersh was founded in Beverly Hills in 1949 by Phil Gersh. He was considered one of the last links between Hollywood's Golden Age and today's corporate-owned movie business [6] , and his clients included Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, and Richard Burton. [7] In 1965, Phil Gersh was able to purchase the agency's Beverly Hills office with his fee for representing Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music. [8]

Phil Gersh gradually handed over responsibility to his two sons, Bob and David Gersh but continued to play a role in the company's management until 10 weeks before his death in 2004. [6]

In 2010, Gersh purchased literary agent Hohman, Maybank, Lieb. [9]

In 2023, Gersh sold a 45% stake to investment firm Crestview Partners, at the same time naming Leslie Siebert co-president. [5] [10] Until this sale, the company had been wholly owned by the Gersh family for nearly 75 years. [11]

Following the investment from Crestview Partners, Gersh began a global expansion plan. In January 2024 Gersh acquired the digital and unscripted departments of A3 Agency, bringing more than 25 agents, 45 additional staff members, and hundreds of clients to the agency. [12] The company also brought in new senior executives in the Business Affairs, [13] Communications, [14] and HR departments, [15] and a number of agents from other companies. [16] In June 2024, the company announced that it had created the new role of Head of Affiliate Marketing - the first such role established at a major agency - and was promoting staff in its digital division and elsewhere in the company. [17] [15]

In December 2024 Gersh acquired You First, a global sports and entertainment agency based in Madrid, adding a roster of clients in the global sports industry. The acquisition doubled the size of Gersh, established its presence in offices in 14 countries, and launched the new Gersh Sports division of the company. [18] [19]

Gersh Spike Lee Fellows

In 2023, Gersh partnered with client Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC)—consisting of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University—to launch the Spike Fellows at Gersh program. [20] The initiative is designed to nurture creative undergraduate students from AUCC with interest in the entertainment industry. [21]

In 2024, the second class of Spike Fellows hosted the inaugural Spike Fellows' Young Black Hollywood Mixer, [22] a networking event for young Black people working in the industry.

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References

  1. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 1, 2023). "Gersh Agency Sells 45% Stake To Private Equity Firm Crestview Partners; Leslie Siebert Upped To Co-President". Deadline. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (December 3, 2024). "Gersh Acquires Global Sports and Entertainment Agency You First, Launches Gersh Sports". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ Sun, Rebecca (June 4, 2015). "The THR Guide to the 7 Major Hollywood Agencies". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Balsach, Marta (December 3, 2024). "You First Joins Gersh, Creating a New Force in Global Sports and Entertainment Representation". You First. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Hayden, Erik (May 1, 2023). "Gersh Sells Minority Stake to Private Equity Firm Crestview Partners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  6. 1 2 McLellan, Dennis (May 11, 2004). "Phil Gersh, 92; Agent With Old Hollywood Instincts, Art Patron". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ Weinraub, Bernard (May 12, 2004). "Bernard". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ Reed, Christopher (July 6, 2004). "Phil Gersh". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Jr, Mike Fleming (December 1, 2010). "UPDATE: Gersh Confirms Hohman Maybank Lieb Deal". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ Jr, Mike Fleming (May 1, 2023). "Gersh Agency Sells 45% Stake To Private Equity Firm Crestview Partners; Leslie Siebert Upped To Co-President". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  11. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (May 1, 2023). "Gersh Agency Sells Minority Stake to Crestview Partners, Promotes Leslie Siebert to Co-President". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (January 9, 2024). "Gersh Acquires A3 Artists Agency's Digital and Unscripted Divisions". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  13. ↑ Otterson, Joe (January 23, 2024). "Gersh Hires A3's April Perroni as Head of Business Affairs (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kit, Borys (January 4, 2024). "Gersh Taps Matt Andrée Wiltens as Head of Global Corporate Communications". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (June 27, 2024). "Gersh Names Endeavor's Catherine Benoit Masraff Head Of Human Resources, Promotes Kenji Shishido To Agent". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (February 27, 2024). "Gersh Hires Doug Fronk as SVP and TV Literary Agent". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 13, 2024). "Gersh Digital Division Names Meg Chemburkar Head Of Affiliate Marketing, Promotes Seven". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  18. ↑ X; Instagram; Email; Facebook (December 3, 2024). "Talent agency Gersh acquires sports representation firm You First in major expansion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2024.{{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  19. ↑ Hayden, Erik (December 3, 2024). "Gersh Buys Sports Agency to Fuel Expansion Plans". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ White, Abbey (May 12, 2023). "Spike Lee and The Gersh Agency Announce Inaugural Spike Fellows". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  21. ↑ Sun, Rebecca (January 12, 2023). "Spike Lee, Gersh Launch HBCU Fellowship Program". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  22. ↑ Lang, Robert (July 26, 2024). "Step & Repeat Gallery: The Best Red Carpet & Party Photos Of 2024". Deadline. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
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