EXCLUSIVE: Gersh is making staffing changes, adding three to its agent ranks while parting ways with three current agents.
Former ICM/CAA talent agent Chris Horsman, most recently manager at Principal Entertainment, is joining Gersh’s talent department. Promoted from coordinator to agent are Jamie Eisman in the talent department and Rachel Erickson in the TV Lit department.
Meanwhile, three talent agents are being let go: Mike Staudt, who had been at Gersh for more than a decade, Casey Larkin and Nathan Howard. Their departures follow the exit last month of veteran TV lit agent Lynn Fimberg who had been at Gersh for more than two decades.
Staff turnover is not unusual for talent agencies, with the Gersh exits alongside the hires underscoring agencies’ current disciplined approach to headcount and costs amid an industry contraction and reduced volume of original series post-Peak TV. Across Hollywood representation firms, there have been layoffs of agents, managers and support staff, expenses reductions or freezes as well as temporary salary cuts.
Gersh has been attracting attention for its ability to pursue acquisition targets — as well as individual agents — with the cash from the 2023 sale of a 45% stake to private equity firm Crestview. The agency has done some of both over the past two years, with more rumors about potential link-ups circulating constantly, including a possible acquisition of Verve, which just implemented cost-saving measures. There has been no credible information of any recent talks between the two.
Horsman comes to Gersh from Principal Entertainment which he rejoined in May 2024 having originally started his career there. From Principal, he moved to the New York office of ICM Partners in 2013 before relocating to the agency’s Los Angeles office in 2015 and transitioning to CAA after its 2022 acquisition of ICM.
Clients immediately transitioning with Horsman to Gersh include Emmy nominee Takehiro Hira (Shogun, Karoshi), Olivier winner Lara Pulver (Mobland), SNL alum Jon Rudnitsky, Dimitri Leonidas (Foundation, Those About to Die), Gratiela Brancusi (1883, Mayor of Kingstown) and Besir Zeciri (The Girl with the Needle).
Eisman began her career at Circle Management and Production. She moved to Gersh to work for Samantha Chalk and Gersh President Leslie Siebert before getting promoted to talent coordinator in 2023. Erickson joined Gersh in 2022 as a floater in the TV Lit department and was promoted to coordinator in 2024.
Staudt, who was on THR’s 2021 Next Gen list, joined Gersh as an agent in 2015 from CAA. A main focus for him was launching Hollywood careers for international action stars and martial artists. Howard had been at Gersh for almost six years, agent for the last two. Larkin had been at Gersh for seven years, agent for the last three and a half.
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