UTA Doubles Down on PR Firepower with High-Profile Hires
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Hollywood’s Quiet Arms Race
Why talent agencies are stockpiling communications muscle
UTA just made a move that’s less about glitz and more about grit. The agency snapped up Gabe Tesoriero, former head of communications at Snap, and Kate Cafaro, a veteran from the PR trenches of Hulu and ABC, to bolster its comms team. This isn’t just shuffling chairs—it’s a calculated play in an industry where perception is currency.
Talent agencies have always been about who you know, but now it’s equally about who knows *you*. With studios and streamers tightening belts, the fight to keep clients visible (and valuable) is fiercer than ever. UTA’s co-president, David Kramer, didn’t mince words: 'In a noisy landscape, clarity cuts through.'
The New Hires’ Playbooks
Tesoriero’s tech savvy meets Cafaro’s entertainment chops
Tesoriero comes armed with Silicon Valley cred—he helped steer Snap through its IPO and the brutal social media wars. That’s a signal UTA wants deeper ties to tech as entertainment and tech keep colliding. Remember when Netflix was just a DVD service?
Cafaro, on the other hand, knows how to sell a story in the traditional sense. She’s the one who helped Hulu’s 'The Handmaid’s Tale' dominate Emmy conversations and navigated ABC through the post-#MeToo era. Her Rolodex includes showrunners who trust her to handle crises before they trend.
Together, they’re a one-two punch: one speaks algorithm, the other speaks audience.
The Stakes Behind the Headlines
Why PR is the new battleground for talent
This isn’t just about press releases. The agency world is still reeling from the 2023 writers’ strike and the existential dread of AI. Clients aren’t just asking, 'Can you get me a deal?' They’re asking, 'Can you make me *indispensable*?'
UTA’s move mirrors WME’s poaching of Netflix’s communications chief last year. It’s a defensive play as much as an offensive one. When a star’s tweet goes sideways or a showrunner’s old comments resurface, agencies need people who can turn a dumpster fire into a teachable moment—fast.
As one insider put it: 'Ten years ago, comms was an afterthought. Now it’s the airbag.'
What’s Next for UTA
The unspoken endgame
Watch for Tesoriero to push UTA further into tech narratives—think influencer deals with ByteDance or advising AI startups on creative rights. Cafaro will likely shore up relationships with legacy media, where reputation still hinges on Emmy gold and Sunday night ratings.
But the real test? Whether this duo can help UTA steal market share from CAA, which still dominates Oscar campaigns and billionaire athlete contracts. The agency wars aren’t fought with backroom deals anymore. They’re fought in headlines, LinkedIn think pieces, and yes, even TikTok apology videos.
As one rival agent grumbled: 'UTA didn’t hire spokespeople. They hired strategists.' Game on.
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