Leading Executives in Talent Agencies
Bryan Lourd
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Chair, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
CAA’s chief executive and co-chair credited with steering the 2023 Art e9mis majority-stake deal and keeping CAA atop film/TV, sports and live entertainment amid industry disruption.
Website | Wikipedia | Press profile
Richard Lovett
Co-Chair, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Veteran power broker who helped build CAA’s modern era; now co-chairs the agency following decades as president, with reach across A-list talent and global sports.
Jim Burtson
President, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Former CFO elevated to president to drive growth and diversification across representation and new initiatives.
Rob Light
Managing Director; Chairman of Music, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Longtime head of global touring elevated to managing director while remaining one of music’s most influential agents.
Website | Press profile | Press profile
Christian Muirhead
Co-Chairman, WME Group
Communications veteran turned agency leader; co-chairs WME and, since the 2025 take-private, co-chairs the broader WME Group.
Richard Weitz
Co-Chairman, WME Group
Dealmaker and long-time TV packaging leader who now co-chairs WME and the expanded WME Group post-Endeavor reorg.
Ari Emanuel
Executive Chairman, WME Group; CEO & Executive Chairman, TKO, WME Group / TKO Group Holdings
Orchestrated Endeavor’s 2025 go‑private and rebrand to WME Group; now its executive chairman while continuing as CEO & executive chairman of TKO (UFC/WWE).
David Kramer
Chief Executive Officer, United Talent Agency (UTA)
Mailroom-to-boardroom success story who took over as UTA’s CEO on June 1, 2025, guiding a diversified platform across film/TV, music, sports and creators.
Jeremy Zimmer
Executive Chairman (through 2025), United Talent Agency (UTA)
UTA co‑founder and longtime CEO who shifted to executive chairman through 2025 as part of a planned succession.
Jay Sures
Vice Chairman, United Talent Agency (UTA)
UTA vice chairman and news/broadcast chief known for expanding UTA’s footprint in journalism and unscripted.
Rich Paul
Founder & CEO (Klutch Sports); Partner & Board Member (UTA), Klutch Sports Group (partnered with UTA)
Founder and CEO of Klutch; also UTA partner/board member who leads UTA Sports—credited with reshaping modern athlete representation.
Website | Press profile | Board/biography
Casey Wasserman
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Wasserman
Founder, chairman & CEO of global sports/music agency Wasserman and chair of LA28—expanding via acquisitions like Brillstein to deepen entertainment reach.
Website | Foundation bio | Wikipedia
John Shea
Chief Executive Officer, Octagon Sports & Entertainment Network (IPG)
Leads Octagon’s global network (Octagon, R&CPMK, FRUKT and more), overseeing 1,200+ staff across 50+ offices in sports and entertainment marketing/representation.
Jeff Schwartz
Founder & President, Excel Sports Management
Top NBA super‑agent turned founder who built Excel into a multi‑sport powerhouse representing stars across basketball, baseball and golf.
Website | Wikipedia | Press profile
Mark Bartelstein
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Priority Sports & Entertainment
Chicago‑based founder whose firm is a leading independent in NBA and NFL representation, known for record‑setting guarantees and long‑tenured client careers.
Website | Wikipedia | Forbes profile
Leslie Siebert
President, The Gersh Agency
Became the first woman to lead a major Hollywood agency in 2025; now oversees Gersh’s day‑to‑day across expanded talent, digital and sports.
Jim Osborne
Chief Executive Officer, Independent Artist Group (IAG)
APA president turned CEO who led the 2023 merger with AGI to form IAG, creating one of the top independent, full‑service agencies.
Dennis Arfa
Chairman, Music Division, Independent Artist Group (IAG)
Legendary agent behind Billy Joel’s touring success; founded AGI and now chairs IAG’s music division, representing arena and stadium headliners.
Julia Buchwald
President, West Coast, Buchwald
Runs Buchwald’s West Coast operation and helps guide the bi‑coastal agency founded by her late father, super‑agent Don Buchwald.
Lucy Dickins
Global Co‑Head of Music (Contemporary), WME
Global co‑head of music who has driven WME’s contemporary music growth, signing marquee artists and expanding leadership in Beverly Hills.
Website | Press profile | Press profile
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