ICM Partners
Professional services
UnclaimedFormer American talent and literary agency representing entertainment, publishing, sports, music, comedy, lecture, and branded-entertainment clients.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
ICM Partners was an American talent and literary agency that operated across the entertainment and representation industries. Its roots went back to 1975, when Marvin Josephson's International Famous Agency merged with Freddie Fields' Creative Management Associates. The resulting organization, International Creative Management, became one of the prominent agencies serving Hollywood and the wider media business. The agency represented actors, writers, directors, producers, and other motion-picture and television professionals. Its representation activities also extended to cinematographers, editors, composers, production designers, costume designers, visual-effects supervisors, and other production specialists. Beyond film and television, ICM worked in publishing, music, comedy, public speaking, live performance, branded entertainment, new media, and sports representation. Its publishing practice represented authors, editors, and literary estates, while its branded-entertainment work covered endorsements, product placement, sponsorships, and the development of original branded film and television concepts. ICM expanded both geographically and by business line. It acquired London-based Duncan Heath Associates in 1985, with the business later combining with ICM London. In the 1990s, control of the agency shifted from founder Marvin Josephson to a leadership group including Jeff Berg, Sam Cohn, and Jim Wiatt, although Josephson continued to maintain an active role. The agency subsequently strengthened its literary business through the acquisition of Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann in 2006 and completed a management buyout in 2012, adopting the ICM Partners name. During the ICM Partners period, the company pursued a broader representation strategy. It acquired or partnered with businesses in comedy, speaking, esports, music touring, literary representation, and sports. Notable moves included its involvement with the Just For Laughs comedy festival, a relationship with esports-focused Evolved, the purchase of Royce Carlton's speaking business, partnerships with Primary Talent International and Stockholm-based Albatros, and the acquisition of Stellar Group, which was rebranded ICM Stellar Sports. ICM later expanded its American football representation business through the acquisition of Select Sports Group. In September 2021, Creative Artists Agency announced an agreement to acquire ICM Partners. The transaction closed in June 2022 for a reported value of $750 million. After the transaction, the ICM business was integrated into CAA; approximately 425 ICM employees and agents were expected to join CAA, while 105 positions were slated for elimination. ICM Partners therefore ceased operating as an independent agency, although many of its representation capabilities and client relationships continued within CAA.
History
International Creative Management was created in 1975 through the merger of Marvin Josephson's International Famous Agency and Freddie Fields' Creative Management Associates. Freddie Fields became the new agency's first president, while Sam Cohn and Guy McElwaine were among the important figures associated with the Creative Management Associates side of the merger. The combination established the organization that would become one of the important American agencies for representing entertainment talent and literary clients. ICM developed a broad client-representation platform spanning motion pictures, television, publishing, music, live performance, and later branded entertainment and new media. Its film and television operations represented actors, writers, directors, and other creative and production professionals. The agency's publishing practice represented authors and editors as well as the estates of prominent writers. This diversification allowed ICM to operate across several parts of the media value chain rather than relying exclusively on screen talent. International growth became an early part of the agency's development. In 1985, ICM acquired London-based Duncan Heath Associates. The acquired business later merged with ICM London in 1991, with Duncan Heath becoming chairman of the combined London operation. In 1992, Marvin Josephson gave up direct control of the agency to a leadership triumvirate consisting of Jeff Berg, Sam Cohn, and Jim Wiatt. Josephson nevertheless retained an active position and continued managing his personal client roster. The agency continued to invest in its business structure during the 2000s. In 2005, it raised $75 million from Rizvi Traverse. In 2006, it acquired the literary agency Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann, strengthening its publishing and book-related representation activities. In 2012, a management buyout was completed and the company adopted the name ICM Partners, reflecting its partnership-based ownership and operating structure. Under the ICM Partners name, the organization expanded into additional representation categories. It acquired New York speakers agency Royce Carlton in 2017; the lecture operation retained the Royce Carlton name for a period before being renamed ICM Speakers in October 2019 and moved to the Washington, D.C., office. In 2018, ICM acquired the Just For Laughs comedy festival in partnership with Howie Mandel, although a 51 percent majority interest was later sold to Bell Media and Groupe CH. The agency also formed a partnership with esports talent agency Evolved. In 2019, Crestview Partners purchased a one-third equity stake in ICM Partners, with the stated objective of supporting growth in representation and international activity. The following year brought a series of moves into music touring, European literary representation, and sports. ICM partnered with London's Primary Talent International, took a significant minority interest in Stockholm-based Albatros, and acquired Stellar Group, a major football and soccer representation agency that was renamed ICM Stellar Sports. In 2021, ICM Partners and ICM Stellar Sports acquired Texas-based Select Sports Group, extending the sports platform into American football. CAA announced its planned acquisition of ICM Partners in September 2021. The transaction closed in June 2022 at a reported value of $750 million. The integration involved approximately 425 ICM staff members and agents joining CAA, while 105 positions were expected to be eliminated. Following the closing, ICM Partners no longer operated as an independent agency; its capabilities and personnel became part of Creative Artists Agency.
- 2022
ICM becomes part of CAA
[1]Creative Artists Agency completed its acquisition of ICM Partners for a reported $750 million.
- 2021
Select Sports Group is acquired
[1]ICM Partners and ICM Stellar Sports purchased Select Sports Group.
- 2020
ICM builds music, literary, and sports operations
[1]The agency partnered with Primary Talent International, invested in Albatros, and acquired Stellar Group.
- 2019
Crestview Partners takes an equity stake
[1]Crestview Partners acquired a one-third interest in ICM Partners.
- 2018
Expansion into comedy and esports
[1]ICM acquired the Just For Laughs festival and formed a partnership with Evolved, an esports-focused talent agency.
- 2017
Royce Carlton is acquired
[1]ICM acquired the New York speakers agency Royce Carlton, later rebranding the division as ICM Speakers.
- 2012
Management buyout creates ICM Partners
[1]A management buyout was completed and the agency adopted the ICM Partners name.
- 2006
Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann is acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded ICM's literary-agency capabilities.
- 2005
Rizvi Traverse provides financing
[1]ICM raised $75 million in financing from Rizvi Traverse.
- 1992
Leadership shifts from Marvin Josephson
[1]Jeff Berg, Sam Cohn, and Jim Wiatt assumed direct leadership through a three-person structure.
Products and positioning
A major full-service entertainment representation agency with substantial film, television, literary, live-performance, branded-entertainment, and sports capabilities before its acquisition by CAA.
Talent representation
Film and television representation
ICM represented actors, writers, directors, producers, and a wide range of production professionals working in motion pictures and television. Its production-focused coverage included cinematographers, editors, second-unit directors, composers, production designers, costume designers, and visual-effects supervisors. The television practice also represented on-air and creative talent.
Literary agency services
Publishing representation
The publishing department represented authors and editors across commercial and literary fields and handled selected literary estates. The agency's client and estate work included major writers in fiction, nonfiction, journalism, and popular culture, as well as estates associated with Theodor Geisel, Arthur Miller, E. B. White, and Tennessee Williams.
Lecture and public-speaker representation · 2019
ICM Speakers
ICM Speakers represented professional public speakers, authors, television personalities, and activists for lectures and other live appearances. The division developed from Royce Carlton, acquired in 2017, and adopted the ICM Speakers name in October 2019 before relocating to ICM's Washington, D.C., office.
Live entertainment representation
Music, comedy, and live appearances
ICM represented musicians, comedians, and other live performers, supporting bookings and professional appearances. Its broader live-performance activities complemented the agency's work in film, television, publishing, and speaking.
Brand integration and endorsements
Branded entertainment
The global branded-entertainment division handled celebrity endorsements, product placement, music-tour sponsorship, and brand integration. It also worked on the creation and packaging of original branded films and television programs, together with commercial work for film and television clients across on-camera, print, voiceover, and paid-media formats.
Sports representation · 2020
ICM Stellar Sports
ICM Stellar Sports was created after ICM Partners acquired Stellar Group in 2020. The sports platform represented football and soccer talent and was later supplemented by the acquisition of Select Sports Group, a Texas-based American football representation agency.
Brand decisions
2021
Agree to acquisition by Creative Artists AgencyM&ABackground
ICM Partners operated as a large private representation agency across entertainment, publishing, live performance, branded entertainment, and sports.
Action taken
CAA announced an agreement to acquire ICM Partners in September 2021.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in June 2022. Approximately 425 ICM employees and agents were expected to join CAA, while 105 positions were planned for elimination.
Reported transaction value. $750 million (Transaction closed June 2022)
2020
Acquire Stellar Group and create ICM Stellar SportsM&ABackground
ICM Partners was expanding beyond traditional entertainment representation into international sports.
Action taken
The agency purchased Stellar Group and rebranded it ICM Stellar Sports.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave ICM a major football and soccer representation platform and established a base for further sports expansion.
2019
Bring speaking representation under the ICM Speakers brandStrategyBackground
ICM had acquired Royce Carlton's speaking business in 2017 and continued operating the division under the acquired name for a period.
Action taken
On October 16, 2019, the division was renamed ICM Speakers and moved to the Washington, D.C., office.
Aftermath
The rebrand aligned the speaking operation more closely with ICM Partners.
2018
Acquire and later reduce ownership of Just For LaughsM&ABackground
ICM sought to expand its comedy and live-entertainment activities through the Just For Laughs festival.
Action taken
The agency acquired the festival in partnership with Howie Mandel; a 51 percent majority was later sold to Bell Media and Groupe CH.
Aftermath
The transaction left the festival primarily under Canadian ownership while preserving ICM's involvement.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
ICM Partners acquires Stellar Group[2]
ICM Partners acquired London-based sports agency Stellar Group. The deal brings Stellar into ICM's sports representation business; financial terms were not disclosed.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
ICM Partners acquires stake in Albatros[3]
ICM Partners acquired a significant minority stake in Stockholm-based literary agency Albatros.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
ICM Partners acquires Primary Talent[4]
ICM Partners acquired Primary Talent, which will continue to operate under its own brand from its London headquarters, with its existing board continuing to run the agency under ICM Partners oversight.
Sources4 sources
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