Todd Jacobs,? Sara Newkirk Simon
?Agent, William Morris Endeavor, Partner, William Morris Endeavor?
wmeentertainment.com
ENDORSEMENTS & BRANDING?
Agency mates Todd Jacobs, 33, and Sara Newkirk Simon, 36, have helped drive William Morris Endeavor’s success in the past 12 months. As a celebrity endorsement agent, Jacobs has put together deals for Usher and Mercedes Benz-AMG, André Benjamin (aka Andre 3000) and Gillette, and Janelle Monae and CoverGirl. “In the next five years, brands are going to be the saviors of the music business to help these artists release their content, distribute their music and be true partners,” he says. WME partner Sara Newkirk Simon is one of the highest-ranking executives in the talent firm’s music group. In this role, she signs new clients, manages department initiatives and negotiates non-touring deals for artists. Most recently, Newkirk Simon brokered Usher’s contract as a season-four coach on “The Voice,” Pharrell Williams’ equity partnership in Liquipel, Bruno Mars’ voice appearance in “Rio 2” and Lady Gaga’s upcoming film roles. But Newkirk Simon says the most rewarding part of her job is performing it with her team at WME. “Working with my colleagues is one million percent the most exciting thing,” she says. “We have a great team of people who love to work together, sign together and service together.”