Here’s some M&A for your Tuesday: Gersh has acquired You First, a leading global sports and entertainment agency.
With the acquisition, Gersh doubles its size to over 600 employees, establishes a global footprint with 22 offices in 14 countries, and positions itself as a player in worldwide sports representation. The goal will be to create new opportunities for clients across both sports and entertainment, building on the strengths of each organization. You First CEO and co-Founder, Juan Aísa, joins the board of Gersh and will continue to run his company from its headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
You First reps over 1,000 clients globally across multiple sports, with a strong presence in soccer and basketball. Notables on the roster include Fabián Ruiz, Alexia Putellas, Milos Kerkez, Christoph Baumgartner, and Luis de la Fuente, to name just a few. Additionally, the agency’s U.S. basketball division, Tandem, reps current and former NBA stars including Desmond Bane, Jarrett Allen, Jeremy Sochan, Ray Allen, and Vince Carter.
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Beyond repping global sporting talent active both on and off the field, You First works closely with sports leagues and corporations — such as Formula 1, Wrexham FC, Samsung and Starbucks — to forge data-driven marketing campaigns that empower brands to connect with fans through sports, entertainment, social platforms and live events.
The You First acquisition provides Gersh with a robust platform to expand into sports representation and consulting. With the launch of its new sports division, Gersh Sports, the agency will continue its expansion into new client-serving businesses, which it began earlier this year with the acquisition of the A3 Agency’s Digital and Alternative departments. Led by managing partner Steve Gersh, Gersh Sports will unify the agency’s sports initiatives and drive collaboration across its entertainment and sports divisions.
Said Steve Gersh on the acquisition, “Sports representation is a natural next step in our growth as we continue to evolve the agency. In acquiring You First, our strategic ambitions were to find a partner with global scale, a diversified and multi-sport practice, and strong management. Juan and the You First team bring all these attributes, and an ethos of steadfast client-centric advocacy that is core to Gersh’s representation practices.”
Stated You First’s CEO, Aísa, “The partnership with Gersh strengthens our position in the industry and allows us to offer even greater support to our clients. Together, we’re building an ecosystem that goes beyond sports and entertainment representation to foster innovation and create new opportunities for global expansion.”
Steve Stanford, head of strategy for Gersh, added that “Gersh has always filled a unique space in the representation landscape, and we want to grow the business in ways that do not come at the expense of what it does best: focus on individuals and their ambitions.”
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