It's time for year-end budget decisions in Hollywood, in a year that has already seen cuts across the industry, from executives to administrative roles.
United Talent Agency, the Beverly Hills-based Big 3 run by CEO Jeremy Zimmer, is facing cuts and is parting ways with about 10 agents whose contracts have not been renewed, a source says. And two high-profile exits from the agency were also recently announced internally, including the exit of the executive who had been co-head of UTA's sports division.
Andrew Thau, who spent nearly two decades at the agency and co-head of UTA Sports, is leaving the company. “Andrew will be with us through the end of the year to assist us in the transition and will continue to advise UTA through part of 2025,” agency president David Kramer wrote in a memo to staff obtained by The Hollywood journalist. That sports division, which includes Klutch Sports and acquisitions such as soccer agency Euro ROOF, will continue to be led by Rich Paul.
Andrea Nelson Meigs, an associate who has worked at UTA for the past four years, will also leave at the end of this year. “He will be taking time off to pursue other opportunities and spend much-needed time with his family after more than 25 years as an agent,” co-heads of talent Chris Hart and Jay Gassner wrote in a separate note to staff. Meigs' clients include Courtney B. Vance, Beyoncé, Ellen Burstyn and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
UTA, which competes with rivals CAA and WME for clients as full-service firms, has more than 2,000 employees and added about 20 agents to its team in 2024. The agency has also been subject to a series of headlines after a rift broke out into the public eye between Michael Kassan, who ran the MediaLink division bought by UTA for $125 million in 2021, and UTA's leadership. That legal battle has been moved to arbitration.
A spokesperson had no further comment on the departures at the agency.