Julian Jacobs: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Julian Jacobs rides the subway. What’s more, the UTA executive can give directions. “The other day, I casually told my wife when she was heading to an appointment, ‘Take the Queens-bound E and transfer to the uptown 6,’” he says with a laugh. “She sort of looked at me for a moment, taking it in.”

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer United Talent Agency has been accused of breach of contract and fraud in relation to its 2021 acquisition of the consultancy firm MediaLink. MediaLink founder and UTA partner Michael Kassan, whose exit from the company nearly a week ago has not yet been reported, claims that UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer and two other top executives engaged in bad faith in the absorption and management of his company, according to documents filed with mediation service JAMS which Variety reviewed. This led Kassan to resign last week, the filing says.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor UTA is tucking a small acquisition into its marketing division: The company announced the acquisition of JUV Consulting, a marketing, creative services and research agency that helps clients target Gen Z consumers. The JUV operations, to be rebranded as Next Gen, will become a new practice within UTA’s entertainment marketing division. About a dozen of JUV Consulting’s employees will join UTA, including CEO Ziad Ahmed (pictured above), working at UTA’s offices in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Julian Jacobs, a longtime UTA executive who has helped the firm expand into entertainment marketing, has been named to lead the agency’s New York office, effective in March. Jacobs expects to build on momentum fostered under Allan Haldeman, a partner and co-head of TV Lit, who has led New York operations since September of 2022.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Lauren Probyn Aouad has joined UTA as a marketing executive, marking the company’s first senior hire in its newly opened Atlanta division. As an executive, Aouad will be responsible for growing the division’s presence within the community and developing new partnerships with brands at the intersection of entertainment and advertising. She will report to Julian Jacobs and David Anderson, UTA partners and co-heads of the entertainment and culture Marketing division. She will work closely with Steve Cohen, partner and co-head of UTA’s Atlanta office. “We’re excited to welcome Lauren to our team,” said Anderson, “Our group has expanded substantially over the past few years, both domestically and globally, and we look forward to having her help us grow the business.”

EXCLUSIVE: UTA is setting up an EMEA branch of its Entertainment and Culture Marketing (E&CM) group and has hired Fremantle Global Branded Entertainment boss Samantha Glynne to oversee the new department.

Angelique Jackson United Talent Agency (UTA) on Tuesday announced 26 new partners, the largest class in the agency’s 31-year history.“As UTA has grown, these colleagues’ leadership, hard work, mentorship and dedication helps push our business forward every day,” said 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 newest UTA partners are:David Anderson (MediaLink); Robert Arakelian (Production Arts); Natasha Bolouki (Unscripted Television); Rob Carlson (Motion Picture Literary); David Evenchick (UTA Speakers); Mike “G” Guirguis (Music); Julian Jacobs (MediaLink); Joe Kessler (UTA IQ); Andrew Lear (Unscripted Television); Fara Leff (Klutch Sports Group); Jbeau Lewis (Music); Jenny Maryasis (Motion Picture Literary); Matthew Morgan (Music); Raina Penchansky (Digital Brand Architects); Jason Richman (Media Rights); Laura Roenick (Human Resources); Michael Rubi (Production Arts); Scott Schachter (Talent); Phil Voss (Legal); Matt Waldstein (Business Affairs); Toni Wallace (Music); Sam Wick (Ventures); and Ruth-Ann Wynter (Human Resources).