UTA managing directors David Kramer and Jay Sures have been upped to co-presidents.
“Jay and David embody the greatest parts of UTA, and I couldn’t ask for better, smarter or more creative partners,” CEO Jeremy Zimmer said in a statement. “They are, first and foremost, among our industry’s best agents. But they are also great colleagues, whose collaboration and entrepreneurship have helped build UTA into what it is today – a true, diversified media company with global reach. As UTA continues to grow and pursue new ventures, partnerships and acquisitions, these titles are a more appropriate reflection of their central roles and what’s next for UTA as an entertainment company.”
The duo, who both began their careers as assistants to UTA co-founder Peter Benedek, were elevated to managing director in 2010. They are members of the agency’s board of directors, too, alongside Zimmer, Benedek, UTA chairman and co-founder Jim Berkus, Tracey Jacobs, Matt Rice and outside investor Jeffrey Ubben.
“As we continue to expand and evolve into a truly diverse entertainment company, artists and creators remain at the center of everything we do,” Kramer and Sures added in a joint statement. “For us, this partnership has worked so well for so long because it’s always been more than just a professional experience. We’ve loved working and growing the business together, and we look forward to continuing that work with our fellow board members, partners and everyone across the agency.”
Kramer heads the agency’s motion picture group (including talent, literary, independent film finance, media rights and production) as well as the comedy touring, licensing, endorsement and publishing departments, while Sures oversees UTA’s television divisions (talent, scripted, non-scripted, broadcasting) and the speakers group.
“It has been one of the great joys of my career to watch David and Jay ascend through the UTA ranks,” Berkus said in a statement. “I could not be more thrilled with their achievements or more confident in the agency’s future. Jay and David are homegrown, tight-knit and excellent leaders. I’m proud of the amazing work being done to take our company forward as one of the leaders in our industry.”
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
