As part of its continuous growth strategy, Gersh has made a significant move by acquiring You First, a prominent global sports and entertainment agency. This acquisition not only doubles Gersh's size to over 600 employees but also establishes a widespread global presence with 22 offices in 14 countries. It positions Gersh as a major player in worldwide sports representation, opening up new avenues for clients across both sports and entertainment.

Uniting Sports and Entertainment for Global Expansion

Expanding Global Reach

You First represents an impressive roster of over 1,000 clients globally across multiple sports. It has a strong foothold in soccer and basketball, with names like Fabián Ruiz, Alexia Putellas, Milos Kerkez, Christoph Baumgartner, and Luis de la Fuente. Its U.S. basketball division, Tandem, represents NBA players and legends such as Desmond Bane, Jarrett Allen, Jeremy Sochan, Ray Allen, and Vince Carter. This extensive client base gives Gersh access to a diverse range of talent and markets.The acquisition allows Gersh to leverage You First's global network and expertise. It enables the agency to offer a wider range of services and opportunities to its clients. With offices in 14 countries, Gersh can now provide seamless support and representation to clients around the world.

Forging Innovative Marketing Campaigns

Beyond representing sporting talent, You First works closely with sports leagues and global corporations like Formula 1, Wrexham FC, Samsung, and Starbucks. It crafts innovative, data-driven marketing campaigns that enable brands to connect with fans through sports, entertainment, social platforms, and live events. This collaborative approach adds value to both the clients and the partnering brands.By combining forces with Gersh, You First can enhance its marketing capabilities and reach a broader audience. The partnership allows for the creation of more impactful campaigns that drive brand awareness and engagement.

Strengthening the Agency's Position

The acquisition of You First provides Gersh with a solid platform to expand into sports representation and consulting. With the launch of Gersh Sports, the agency continues its growth into new client-serving businesses. Led by Steve Gersh, Gersh Sports will unify the agency's sports initiatives and foster collaboration between the entertainment and sports divisions.Gersh managing partner Steve Gersh emphasizes the significance of this acquisition. "Sports representation is a natural next step in our growth as we continue to evolve the agency. In acquiring You First, we found a partner with global scale, a diversified and multi-sport practice, and strong management."You First CEO Juan Aísa also sees the value in the partnership. "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."Gersh's head of strategy Steve Stanford highlights the agency's focus on growth. "As we continue to grow the agency, our focus is to broaden the practice into new areas of representation and grow the core business. We want to build an ecosystem where clients across all divisions can directly benefit from this enhanced capability."