![Rich Paul Named to UTA Board of Directors](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/rich_paul-_publicity_-_h_2020_.jpg?w=1296&h=730&crop=1)
Rich Paul has been appointed to the UTA board of directors.
Paul, an agency partner, has been the head of the agency’s sports division since July 2019, when UTA invested in Paul’s Klutch Sports Group, which was founded in 2012 when LeBron James left CAA to join with Paul.
On the board, Paul joins Jeremy Zimmer, co-presidents David Kramer and Jay Sures, chairman Jim Berkus, co-founder Peter Benedek, COO Andrew Thau, and senior agents Tracey Jacobs, Blair Kohan and Matt Rice.
Since joining UTA, Klutch has expanded into professional football and baseball with acquisitions of Revolution Sports Agency and Tidal Sports Group. Leading sports agent Omar Wilkes also recently joined Klutch.
“Our association with Rich Paul has been a true bright spot since he partnered with us a year ago,” said UTA ceo and board member Zimmer. “We were determined to come together and build a cutting edge, full-service representation arm for athletes, and are well on our way. Adding Rich to the Board gives us additional perspective and support as we strive to be the best company for all our colleagues and clients. Rich has a keen and unblinking eye for the truth of how we all win together.”
“It’s an honor to join the board of directors of a prestigious and successful company like UTA and one so committed to its culture,” said Paul. “These are opportunities not often presented to Black men and women, so it comes with added responsibility to use my position not just to help drive a global business forward but to create more chances for people who look like me and face the same challenges I did. My motivation is to help ensure all young people of color live up to their potential and succeed in the face of the systemic inequality that remains as real today as ever. I look forward to working with my UTA colleagues at all levels as a board member.”
Paul’s appointment comes as Hollywood companies have committed to addressing industry-wide issues of systemic racial inequity, including by adding black executives to their governing bodies. For its part, UTA has also pledged $1 million to social justice causes, among other internal initiatives.
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