CAA Hires Former UTA Partner Brent Weinstein
Brent Weinstein, who in nearly 20 years at UTA launched and grew the agency’s pioneering digital media business, is joining rival CAA in a senior role overseeing multiple areas.
Weinstein will become a member of CAA’s senior leadership team. His first day at the agency is May 28. Weinstein will oversee business areas including digital media, podcasts, games, talent business ventures and speakers. He also will be involved in CAA’s M&A and investment activities, with a specific focus on setting strategy for the business areas he oversees; additionally, he will co-manage CAA’s Intell data team in partnership with the agency’s technology division.
After joining UTA in 2003, Weinstein built and led UTA’s digital talent division — the first of its kind at a major agency. He also oversaw its podcasting, ventures, live events and emerging platforms businesses, rising to become partner in 2015. In 2018, UTA promoted him to be the agency’s first chief innovation officer. Weinstein also co-managed UTA’s Insights and News divisions; helped drive strategy and operations for its global music and speakers businesses; and played a key role in the agency’s M&A initiatives.
During his tenure at UTA, Weinstein worked with Brian Robbins (currently head of Paramount Pictures) to develop and launch youth-focused digital network AwesomenessTV and ultimately sell it to Viacom. Weinstein also created Keywords Press, an influencer-focused publishing imprint in partnership with Simon & Schuster.
Most recently, Weinstein was chief development officer at Candle Media, the media roll-up venture headed by former Disney execs Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer. Weinstein led Candle Media’s corporate and business development efforts across divisions including Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Moonbug (whose properties include CoComelon). Weinstein holds a bachelor’s degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.
“CAA is relentlessly focused on being the most deeply resourced, knowledgeable, and innovative advocate for its clients across all areas,” president Jim Burtson said in a statement. “Brent’s shared passion for client service as an exceptional agent, and his tremendous track record as a creative business builder and senior leader, make him an outstanding match for us as we continue to execute on our ambitious vision. His deep understanding of the rapidly growing marketplace of opportunities for talent will be invaluable as we build upon the ongoing success of the areas he will oversee.”
Weinstein commented, “CAA sits uniquely and powerfully at the intersection of entertainment, sports, culture and technology, with a global reputation for excellence and an unmatched understanding of where audiences and consumers are heading. It’s an honor to become part of CAA and its incredible culture, and to work alongside some of the most creative and pioneering agents and executives in the industry, as we collectively work to create new opportunities for the world’s leading creators and companies.”
The leadership of the divisions now being overseeing by Weinstein will remain in place. CAA’s podcast biz is led by Josh Lindgren; the digital media group is headed by David Freeman; the games department is led by Derek Douglas; CAA Speakers is led by Peter Jacobs; and talent business ventures is led by Toby Borg. André Vargas, in CAA’s technology department, leads the work of the company’s data team and its in-house data and analytics platform, CAA Intell.
Weinstein will become a member of CAA’s senior leadership team. His first day at the agency is May 28. Weinstein will oversee business areas including digital media, podcasts, games, talent business ventures and speakers. He also will be involved in CAA’s M&A and investment activities, with a specific focus on setting strategy for the business areas he oversees; additionally, he will co-manage CAA’s Intell data team in partnership with the agency’s technology division.
After joining UTA in 2003, Weinstein built and led UTA’s digital talent division — the first of its kind at a major agency. He also oversaw its podcasting, ventures, live events and emerging platforms businesses, rising to become partner in 2015. In 2018, UTA promoted him to be the agency’s first chief innovation officer. Weinstein also co-managed UTA’s Insights and News divisions; helped drive strategy and operations for its global music and speakers businesses; and played a key role in the agency’s M&A initiatives.
During his tenure at UTA, Weinstein worked with Brian Robbins (currently head of Paramount Pictures) to develop and launch youth-focused digital network AwesomenessTV and ultimately sell it to Viacom. Weinstein also created Keywords Press, an influencer-focused publishing imprint in partnership with Simon & Schuster.
Most recently, Weinstein was chief development officer at Candle Media, the media roll-up venture headed by former Disney execs Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer. Weinstein led Candle Media’s corporate and business development efforts across divisions including Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Moonbug (whose properties include CoComelon). Weinstein holds a bachelor’s degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.
“CAA is relentlessly focused on being the most deeply resourced, knowledgeable, and innovative advocate for its clients across all areas,” president Jim Burtson said in a statement. “Brent’s shared passion for client service as an exceptional agent, and his tremendous track record as a creative business builder and senior leader, make him an outstanding match for us as we continue to execute on our ambitious vision. His deep understanding of the rapidly growing marketplace of opportunities for talent will be invaluable as we build upon the ongoing success of the areas he will oversee.”
Weinstein commented, “CAA sits uniquely and powerfully at the intersection of entertainment, sports, culture and technology, with a global reputation for excellence and an unmatched understanding of where audiences and consumers are heading. It’s an honor to become part of CAA and its incredible culture, and to work alongside some of the most creative and pioneering agents and executives in the industry, as we collectively work to create new opportunities for the world’s leading creators and companies.”
The leadership of the divisions now being overseeing by Weinstein will remain in place. CAA’s podcast biz is led by Josh Lindgren; the digital media group is headed by David Freeman; the games department is led by Derek Douglas; CAA Speakers is led by Peter Jacobs; and talent business ventures is led by Toby Borg. André Vargas, in CAA’s technology department, leads the work of the company’s data team and its in-house data and analytics platform, CAA Intell.