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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. More from Variety CAA Unveils 2025 Moebius Film Festival Lineup CAA Signs Breakaway Ahead of Music Festival's International Expansion (EXCLUSIVE) CAA Sports to Acquire International Sports Management Consultancy Portas Consulting 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. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CAA Accuses Range Media Partners of Stealing Trade Secrets in Agency Battle
CAA added a barrage of new allegations to a lawsuit against a rival firm on Monday, alleging that former employees illegally accessed CAA databases and stole trade secrets when they left to form Range Media Partners in 2020. CAA first sued Range last fall, claiming the firm was built on deceit and betrayal. In an amended complaint filed Monday, the agency says it has since uncovered 'documents, photographs, and video footage' through discovery that 'reveal the depth of Range's dishonesty.' More from Variety Justine Lupe Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE) CAA Hires Former UTA Partner Brent Weinstein CAA Unveils 2025 Moebius Film Festival Lineup Mick Sullivan, who left CAA to help form Range, is accused in the suit of emailing himself client 'rundowns,' which detailed every meeting the clients had taken and projects they were tracking. At least one of those clients immediately left CAA when Range formed. Sullivan is also accused of emailing himself hundreds of pages of meeting notes, which detailed information on hundreds of projects and potential projects that had been gathered for CAA clients. Sullivan also allegedly pressured a CAA assistant to send him additional information about clients, including lists totaling nearly 200 scripts that had been sent to them. The suit alleges that other Range employees also stole confidential information, including by pressuring CAA employees who remained at the company. Paige Wandling, an assistant at CAA who left to become a manager at Range, is accused of using a CAA 'mole' to obtain hundreds of confidential documents. 'Over a course of weeks, Wandling requested, and Empoyee-1 provided, CAA's confidential information dozens of times,' the suit alleges. 'The stolen information included, by way of example, internal CAA emails, extensive information about film and TV opportunities for talent, scripts, industry contacts, CAA memos, CAA grids, and information on CAA meetings and business initiatives.' According to the complaint, Wandling offered to pay the CAA mole for this information, and in fact did so. The complaint argues that CAA's trade secrets are essential to making the company — and the industry — run. Agents gather information from studios, producers, directors and writers, and put it into a database so it can be sorted and shared internally. Agents also collect sensitive information from clients, including their financial information, career goals and so on. 'This client confidential information is immeasurably valuable to competitors who could use it to understand the particular nuanced needs, motivations, and negotiating tactics of CAA's clients,' the complaint states. CAA's initial lawsuit, filed last fall, accused Range of 'unfair competition,' arguing that it had devised a scheme to get around California's talent agency law by claiming to be a management firm. Range has moved to throw out that suit, arguing it was legally defective. The amended lawsuit retains the initial claims while adding accusations of theft of trade secrets and unauthorized computer access. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
