The Gersh Agency

The Gersh Agency, commonly known as Gersh, is an American entertainment and sports representation business founded in Beverly Hills in 1949 by Phil Gersh. It began as a Hollywood talent agency and developed into a multi-disciplinary firm representing actors, writers, directors, producers, musicians, creators, athletes, and other professionals working across film, television, theater, digital media, advertising, podcasts, audiobooks, and sports. The agency’s historical roster included major figures such as Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, and Richard Burton, while its broader business has continued to evolve alongside changes in the studio, television, streaming, digital-media, and sports industries. Phil Gersh remained an important figure in the company for decades. One notable point in the agency’s history came in 1965, when he used his fee for representing director Robert Wise to purchase Gersh’s Beverly Hills office. Responsibility gradually passed to Phil Gersh’s sons, Bob Gersh and David Gersh, although Phil continued participating in management until shortly before his death in 2004. The transition preserved the company’s family-owned character and helped distinguish Gersh from larger corporate agencies. The Gersh family retained full ownership for almost 75 years before selling a minority stake to Crestview Partners in 2023. Gersh expanded beyond its traditional film and television representation activities through acquisitions and the development of specialist divisions. In 2010, it acquired the literary agency Hohman, Maybank, Lieb. The company later broadened its capabilities in digital and unscripted representation, business affairs, communications, human resources, affiliate marketing, and other areas supporting talent and content businesses. In 2024, Gersh acquired the digital and unscripted departments of A3 Artists Agency, adding more than 25 agents, approximately 45 staff members, and hundreds of clients. The transaction formed part of a stated global expansion plan and was accompanied by the recruitment of senior personnel in several corporate and representation functions. The agency also expanded into sports representation. In December 2024, it acquired You First, an international sports and entertainment agency based in Madrid. The transaction added You First’s sports client roster, extended Gersh’s international footprint, and led to the creation of the Gersh Sports division. In March 2025, Tandem Sports + Entertainment was rebranded as Gersh Sports, becoming the agency’s basketball division and an initial pillar of the sports practice. In May 2025, Gersh launched Gersh Voice to represent voice actors working in animation, podcasts, and audiobooks. Alongside commercial representation, Gersh has developed education and access initiatives. In 2023, it partnered with filmmaker and client Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium—Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University—to create the Spike Fellows at Gersh program for undergraduate students interested in entertainment careers. The second class organized the first Spike Fellows’ Young Black Hollywood Mixer in 2024. In 2025, Gersh began educational cooperation with Pace University, Emerson College, and the Savannah College of Art and Design through Gersh U, a campus-based initiative for students seeking entertainment-industry careers. Gersh is led by President Leslie Siebert, with Bob Gersh and David Gersh serving as co-chairs. Its current profile combines the relationship-driven model of a long-established Hollywood agency with international expansion, specialist representation, sports management, digital-media services, and educational programming.

The Gersh Agency was founded in Beverly Hills in 1949 by Phil Gersh. Its early growth was tied to Hollywood’s studio and independent production economy, and its clients included prominent performers and filmmakers such as Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, and Richard Burton. In 1965, Gersh used his fee for representing director Robert Wise to purchase the agency’s Beverly Hills office, an episode that reflected both the firm’s Hollywood roots and its founder’s personal role in building the business. Phil Gersh gradually transferred operational responsibility to his sons, Bob Gersh and David Gersh. He remained involved in management until approximately ten weeks before his death in 2004. The succession maintained the company as a family-owned agency during a period when many competitors were consolidating or becoming parts of larger corporate groups. Richard Arlook was associated with Gersh from 1990 until 2008. The agency expanded its literary capabilities in 2010 through the acquisition of Hohman, Maybank, Lieb. It also became involved in several disputes and controversies associated with the competitive nature of talent representation. In 2016, the Agency for the Performing Arts sued Gersh, alleging that Gersh had recruited an APA agent shortly after the agent renewed an employment contract. In July 2018, Gersh ended its representation of actor James Woods. Woods attributed the decision to political bias related to his conservative public views, an allegation connected to the agency’s decision but not established here as fact. During the 2019 WGA and ATA conflict, Gersh agents Roy Ashton, David Rubin, and Shan Roy faced criticism after a studio meeting involving a former client who had left their representation was cancelled. Gersh said it was following protocol, but the explanation generated additional industry criticism. In 2023, the agency sold a 45% minority interest to Crestview Partners. The transaction ended the Gersh family’s period of wholly owning the company, which had lasted for almost three quarters of a century. Leslie Siebert became a third co-president, while Bob and David Gersh served as co-chairs. The investment was followed by a more pronounced expansion strategy. In 2024, Gersh acquired A3 Artists Agency’s digital and unscripted departments, bringing in more than 25 agents, 45 additional staff members, and hundreds of clients. The agency also added senior personnel in business affairs, communications, and human resources. In June 2024, it announced a Head of Affiliate Marketing role and promotions in its digital division and elsewhere. Later that year, Gersh acquired Madrid-based You First, an international sports and entertainment agency. The deal expanded Gersh’s international presence, added sports clients, and created Gersh Sports. In March 2025, Tandem Sports + Entertainment adopted the Gersh Sports name and became the agency’s basketball division. In May 2025, Gersh launched Gersh Voice for voice actors in animation, podcasts, and audiobooks. The agency also broadened its educational activities. Its Spike Fellows at Gersh partnership with Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium began in 2023, and the second cohort hosted the first Young Black Hollywood Mixer in 2024. In 2025, Gersh began working with Pace University, Emerson College, and the Savannah College of Art and Design on Gersh U, a campus-based entertainment-industry education initiative.

1. 2025Tandem becomes Gersh Sports

   Tandem Sports + Entertainment rebranded as Gersh Sports and became the agency’s basketball division.

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2. 2025Gersh Voice launched

   The agency created Gersh Voice for representation in animation, podcasts, and audiobooks.

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3. 2024A3 digital and unscripted departments acquired

   Gersh acquired A3’s digital and unscripted departments and added agents, staff, and clients.

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4. 2024You First acquired

   The acquisition of Madrid-based You First expanded Gersh’s international sports activities and created Gersh Sports.

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5. 2023Crestview Partners takes a minority stake

   Crestview Partners acquired a 45% interest, while Leslie Siebert became a third co-president.

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6. 2023Spike Fellows at Gersh begins

   Gersh, Spike Lee, and the Atlanta University Center Consortium launched an entertainment-industry fellowship for students at three historically Black universities.

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7. 2010Acquisition of Hohman, Maybank, Lieb

   Gersh acquired literary agency Hohman, Maybank, Lieb.

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8. 2004Death of founder Phil Gersh

   Phil Gersh died after continuing to participate in the company’s management during the transition to his sons.

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9. 1965Phil Gersh purchases the Beverly Hills office

   Gersh used his fee for representing director Robert Wise to purchase the agency’s Beverly Hills office.

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10. 1949Agency founded in Beverly Hills

    Phil Gersh established the agency in Beverly Hills, California.

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A family-founded, full-service entertainment and sports agency combining established Hollywood representation with specialist digital, voice, international, and sports practices.

• Film and television talent representationTalent representation1949

  Gersh represents performers and other creative professionals working in film and television. Services generally center on career strategy, employment negotiations, project representation, and relationships with studios, producers, networks, and other buyers. This traditional agency practice remains central to the company’s identity as a long-established Hollywood representation firm.

• Literary representationWriters and creators2010

  The agency represents writers and other literary talent in film, television, and related entertainment markets. Its literary capabilities were expanded through the 2010 acquisition of Hohman, Maybank, Lieb, supporting Gersh’s broader role in developing and negotiating creative projects.

• Digital and unscripted representationDigital media2024

  Gersh’s digital and unscripted practices serve creators and professionals working outside conventional scripted film and television structures. The business expanded materially in 2024 through the acquisition of A3 Artists Agency’s digital and unscripted departments, including their agents, staff, and client relationships.

• Gersh SportsSports representation2024

  Gersh Sports is the agency’s sports practice, created after the acquisition of You First and expanded through the rebranding of Tandem Sports + Entertainment. Its initial structure includes international sports representation and a basketball division.

• Gersh VoiceVoice representation2025

  Gersh Voice represents voice actors working in animation, podcasts, and audiobooks. The practice extends Gersh’s talent-representation model into audio-led and performance-based formats that span entertainment and digital media.

• 2025Gersh U

  United States

  Gersh began cooperating with Pace University, Emerson College, and the Savannah College of Art and Design on campus-based programs for students seeking careers in entertainment.

  Outcome. Gersh also hosted a panel at the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

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• 2023Spike Fellows at Gersh

  United States

  Gersh partnered with Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium to support undergraduate students from Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University who were interested in entertainment careers.

  Outcome. The initiative continued with a second class, whose members hosted the inaugural Young Black Hollywood Mixer in 2024.

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• 2025Launch Gersh VoiceProduct launch

  Audio and voice performance work was becoming an increasingly distinct representation category across animation, podcasts, and audiobooks.

  What changed. Gersh created Gersh Voice to represent voice actors in those fields.

  Aftermath. The launch added a dedicated voice practice to Gersh’s expanding specialist portfolio.

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• 2024Acquire A3 digital and unscripted departmentsM&A

  Gersh pursued international and specialist expansion in digital and unscripted representation.

  What changed. The agency acquired A3 Artists Agency’s digital and unscripted departments, including more than 25 agents, 45 staff members, and hundreds of clients.

  Aftermath. The acquisition enlarged Gersh’s digital and unscripted platform and was accompanied by additional senior hires.

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• 2024Acquire You FirstM&A

  Gersh sought to build an international sports and entertainment representation business.

  What changed. The agency acquired Madrid-based You First and its sports client roster.

  Aftermath. The transaction doubled the size of Gersh according to the reference material, established offices in 14 countries, and launched Gersh Sports.

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• 2023Sell a minority interest to Crestview PartnersM&A

  The Gersh family had wholly owned the agency for nearly 75 years, while the company was seeking to support its next phase of growth.

  What changed. Gersh sold a 45% stake to Crestview Partners and appointed Leslie Siebert as a third co-president.

  Aftermath. The agency remained privately held and family-linked, with Bob and David Gersh serving as co-chairs.

  Ownership stake sold. 100% family ownership → 45% minority interest held by Crestview Partners (2023)

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• 2019Criticism during the WGA and ATA conflictControversy

  Agents Roy Ashton, David Rubin, and Shan Roy were criticized after cancelling a studio meeting involving a former client who had left their representation. Gersh said it was following protocol, but the response drew further industry criticism.

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• 2018End of representation of James WoodsControversy

  Gersh notified actor James Woods by email that it would no longer represent him. Woods alleged that the decision reflected political bias connected to his outspoken conservative views.

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• 2016Agency for the Performing Arts lawsuitControversy

  The Agency for the Performing Arts sued Gersh, alleging that Gersh had recruited an APA agent who had recently renewed an employment contract.

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• 2025Tandem Sports + Entertainment rebrands as Gersh Sports

  Tandem Sports + Entertainment became Gersh Sports, serving as the agency’s basketball division and an initial pillar of its sports practice.

  Leadership change
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• 2025Gersh launches Gersh Voice

  Gersh introduced a voice-actor practice covering animation, podcasts, and audiobooks.

  Product launch
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• 2024Gersh expands through A3 digital and unscripted acquisition

  Gersh acquired the digital and unscripted departments of A3 Artists Agency, adding agents, staff, and hundreds of clients as part of a global expansion plan.

  M&A
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• 2024Gersh acquires You First and creates Gersh Sports

  The agency acquired Madrid-based You First, adding an international sports roster and establishing Gersh Sports.

  M&A
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• 2023Gersh sells minority stake to Crestview Partners

  The Gersh family sold a 45% interest in the agency to private-equity firm Crestview Partners, ending nearly 75 years of complete family ownership. Leslie Siebert was named a third co-president.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2023Gersh launches Spike Fellows at Gersh

  Gersh partnered with Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium to create a fellowship for students from Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.

  Campaign
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1. The Gersh Agency