Gersh Acquires A3 Artists Agency’s Digital and Alternative Divisions

Gersh has finally acquired the digital and alternative departments of A3 Artists Agency . It comes after Deadline revealed the plans in September. Related Stories Agencies Gersh In Talks To Acquire A3’s Digital & Unscripted Departments – The Dish Agencies Gersh Agency Sells 45% Stake To Private Equity Firm Crestview Partners; Leslie Siebert Upped To Co President It marks the first deal after Crestview Partners took an equity investment in Gersh last year that saw the private equity company take a 45% stake in the agency.

As part of acquisition, 25 agents and a total of 45 additional staff will move to Gersh. It will see a new stand alone digital business for the agency to be led by Jade Sherman, who joins as a senior partner and Head of Digital. The alternative department will be led by Alec Shankman, who joins Gersh as a senior partner and Head of Alternative, working alongside senior agent and partner Debra Goldfarb.

In addition to Shankman and Sherman, senior agents moving to Gersh as part of the deal include Keith Bielory, Mark Turner, Melissa DeMarco, Sam Schmidt, Marienor Madrilejo, Jared Thompson, and Matt Sorger. A3 will still have 100 people working at the agency and insiders say that clients will still be taken care of and the company is “in it for the long haul”.

It comes after a bombshell lawsuit filed against A3 boss Adam Bold in December , in part designed to block the deal. “We are incredibly excited about this area of growth for Gersh. Jade and Alec are wonderful leaders, and their group of seasoned agents are a great fit for us. The combined resources and expertise within the agency will unlock unparalleled opportunities for our clients,” said Bob Gersh, David Gersh and Leslie Siebert, Co Presidents of Gersh.

“A3’s leadership team cultivated two outstanding departments. Their demonstrated success quickly positioned them as compelling additions to the agency.” “Gersh’s acquisition of A3 digital and alternative represents a key growth milestone for the agency as we continue to pursue attractive M&A and organic growth opportunities within secular growth areas of the media sector, including digital and sports media, as well as international representation,” said Patrick LaValley, Principal at Crestview Partners.

“We built remarkable digital and unscripted departments and I can’t wait to see what my team does in combination with Gersh,” added Adam Bold, Chairman of the A3 Artists Agency..