| The Gersh Agency | |
| Type: | Private |
| Key People: | Bob Gersh, David Gersh and Leslie Siebert: Co-presidents[1] |
| Industry: | Talent and Literary Agencies |
| Num Employees: | about 600 |
| Foundation: | Beverly Hills, California, U.S.(1949) |
| Location: | Beverly Hills, California New York City, New York |
Gersh (also known as The Gersh Agency) is a global entertainment and sports agency based in Beverly Hills, California, with offices in New York City, Madrid, and other offices spread across 14 countries.[2]
Established in 1949 by Phil Gersh,[3] the agency represents a diverse roster of clients across film, television, sports, theater, comedy, branding, publishing, and digital media. The company’s ongoing growth plan makes Gersh the fastest-growing agency in the entertainment industry worldwide. [4]
The company was wholly owned by the Gersh family until 2023 when a minority interest was sold to Crestview Partners, a private equity company. The agency is currently run by co-presidents Bob and David Gersh, and Leslie Siebert. [5]
Gersh was founded in Beverly Hills in 1949 by Phil Gersh. He was considered one of the last links between Hollywood's Golden Age and today's corporate-owned movie business[6], and his clients included Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, and Richard Burton.[7] In 1965, Phil Gersh was able to purchase the agency's Beverly Hills office with his fee for representing Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music. [8]
Phil Gersh gradually handed over responsibility to his two sons, Bob and David Gersh but continued to play a role in the company's management until 10 weeks before his death in 2004.
In 2010, Gersh purchased literary agent Hohman, Maybank, Lieb.[9]
In 2023, Gersh sold a 45% stake to investment firm Crestview Partners, at the same time naming Leslie Siebert co-president.[10] Until this sale, the company had been wholly owned by the Gersh family for nearly 75 years.[11]
Following the investment from Crestview Partners, Gersh began a global expansion plan. In January 2024 Gersh acquired the digital and unscripted departments of A3 Agency, bringing more than 25 agents, 45 additional staff members, and hundreds of clients to the agency.[12] The company also brought in new senior executives in the Business Affairs,[13] Communications,[14] and HR departments,[15] and a number of agents from other companies.[16] In June 2024, the company announced that it had created the new role of Head of Affiliate Marketing - the first such role established at a major agency - and was promoting staff in its digital division and elsewhere in the company.[17]
In December 2024 Gersh acquired You First, a global sports and entertainment agency based in Madrid, adding a roster of clients in the global sports industry. The acquisition doubled the size of Gersh, established its presence in offices in 14 countries, and launched the new Gersh Sports division of the company.[18] [19]
In 2023, Gersh partnered with client Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC)—consisting of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University—to launch the Spike Fellows at Gersh program.[20] The initiative is designed to nurture creative undergraduate students from AUCC with interest in the entertainment industry.[21]
In 2024, the second class of Spike Fellows hosted the inaugural Spike Fellows' Young Black Hollywood Mixer,[22] a networking event for young Black people working in the industry.