David Kramer has been appointed CEO of UTA, effective June 1, 2025. Jeremy Zimmer, who has served as CEO since 2012, will partner with Kramer to support UTA’s planned succession process in the role of executive chairman through the end of 2025, and will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. Paul Wachter will remain in his position as chairman of the board.
As CEO, Kramer will oversee all strategic planning and operations of the company’s global business. “I am honored to serve as the next CEO of this incredible company and work with our talented team of agents and executives who, unlike any other, prioritize clients above all else, and share a commitment to delivering tailored, impactful opportunities,” said Kramer. “Thanks to Jeremy’s vision and leadership, UTA has not only grown, but evolved into a more diversified, dynamic company, expanding into new areas, while strengthening our core business. Our complementary businesses are positioned to take advantage of an everchanging environment and I look forward to building on our momentum to advance the UTA platform.”
Under Zimmer’s leadership, UTA evolved from a boutique literary agency into a global powerhouse, expanding into music, sports, publishing, fashion and beauty, creators and brand advisory. Through a combination of organic growth and 19 strategic acquisitions — including two major music agencies, leading publishing firm Fletcher & Company, U.K. talent and literary agency Curtis Brown Group and global football agency ROOF — the company has significantly increased its client base, enhanced its service offerings and strengthened its global reputation as a premier talent agency.
“These 35 years at UTA have been so incredibly rewarding,” Zimmer said. “While transition is never easy, this particular moment feels very right. David has been my chosen successor for many years and I’m certain that he will continue to uphold our great culture, support our amazing colleagues and honor the privilege of serving our clients.”
Kramer has served as UTA’s president since 2022. He began his career in UTA’s mailroom before joining the motion picture department. In addition to representing clients, he has guided the agency’s day-to-day business and helped shape its strategic growth across a number of critical business lines, overseeing the filmed entertainment group, which includes motion picture literary, television literary, talent, production arts and independent film, as well as the comedy touring and publishing divisions. Throughout his tenure, he has played an instrumental role in shaping and executing the Company’s strategic growth, including helping to bring on strategic investor EQT and leading UTA’s acquisition of top U.K. literary and talent agency Curtis Brown Group. David currently serves on the board of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the board of directors of Project Angel Food and is the West Coast chair of the Peabody Awards.
“We are thrilled to announce David as UTA’s next CEO. He is stepping into this role at an exciting time of growth, with UTA at the center of some of the most pivotal cultural moments across media, sports, and entertainment. We are confident that his leadership and client-centric approach will position the company for continued success,” Wachter said. “I’ve known Jeremy and UTA for almost 30 years and have been impressed with Jeremy’s entrepreneurial nature and vision. It’s been remarkable how much the company has grown and succeeded over that period. Jeremy’s years of dedicated service have left a strong and dynamic foundation for the company’s future.”
In a memo to UTA staff obtained by Variety, Zimmer indicated he is “moving on professionally,” but “will be completely available to help transition divisions and relationships to the colleagues who will assume new responsibilities” in the coming months.
“The fact that I am ready for my next challenge doesn’t obviate how hard it will be to not walk in every morning to a place I love. I will miss the deep sense of pride and belonging I have felt as part of the UTA family for the last 35 years,” Zimmer’s memo reads. “I know that the time is right, the company is well positioned for its next phase of growth. We have successfully navigated both transformative and tumultuous times, and much of that is with David’s steady influence. I have been an agent for 45 years, and it’s now or never to see what else I will do. I’ve always been a builder, and I want to take the time to create something meaningful in this next chapter of my career.”
Variety has also obtained the staff-wide letter Kramer sent this morning, in which he vows to “foster real collaboration” and “unlock greater opportunity for both our clients and the company.” Read it in full below.
Team,
I’d like to start by saying that I am honored to be named UTA’s next CEO. We are all deeply grateful to Jeremy for his passion and dedication to this team and for helping to make UTA into one of the premier global talent agencies in the world. His vision and guidance were key to building our foundation and broadening our business to offer clients world-class capabilities across filmed entertainment, music, sports, the creator economy, and advisory services.
There is a reason that UTA has been my home for my entire career – I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, and experience the impact our work has for our clients.
UTA has consistently taken chances, entered into new spaces, and defined categories with our work. Our focus will continue to be on nurturing and empowering that entrepreneurialism, and the unique strengths and capabilities that have allowed us to win in each category. Together, we will make sure that we foster real collaboration across our platform so that we can leverage our ability to see what’s next in culture to unlock greater opportunity for both our clients and the company as a whole.
UTA’s greatness isn’t just defined by the strength of our individual contributions or our ever-expanding scale; it’s our shared commitment to putting clients first and our relentless pursuit of discovering, creating and sustaining opportunity for great talent and brands. This will always be the foundation of our success and what differentiates us.
I’m excited to collaborate with each of you as we leverage the strength of the businesses we’ve built and guide this company into a new era of growth and innovation.
I look forward to spending time over the following weeks meeting with all of you and talking further about priorities ahead.
Please join me once again in thanking Jeremy for his incredible vision and leadership. And thank you for all you do to make UTA the company it is today.
Regards,
DK
