United Talent Agency (UTA), a global talent, entertainment, sports, and advisory company, has announced the significant appointment of partner Darnell Strom as the new head of its UK office in London. This newly created role underscores UTA’s ambitious strategy to evolve its London presence into a major international hub, spearheading its continued expansion into key markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

In his comprehensive new capacity, Strom will be responsible for overseeing UTA’s extensive UK operations. He will work in close collaboration with UTA’s diverse London teams, which span music, creators, brand marketing, comedy, production arts, and advisory services. A crucial part of his role will involve fostering close cooperation with entities recently acquired by UTA, including the storied talent and literary powerhouse Curtis Brown, acquired in 2022, and the recently integrated ROOF Football Agency, as well as the consultancy firm MediaLink. Strom will maintain his current role as partner and Head of Culture & Commerce at UTA, a position he has held since joining the agency in 2019, while continuing to represent his high-profile client roster.

Strom brings a wealth of experience and a diverse background to his new leadership position. Prior to his tenure at UTA, he served as an agent at CAA. His career also features a notable history in politics, including serving as Deputy Director of Scheduling to former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2005, director of the chair’s office at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and Florida Director of Operations for John Kerry’s presidential campaign. He later served on President Barack Obama’s White House Entertainment Council and was instrumental in creating the Clinton Foundation Millennium Network to engage the next generation of leaders. This extensive cross-disciplinary knowledge, coupled with a global network of client relationships spanning entertainment, fashion/luxury, sports, and media, makes him uniquely suited for this expanded international role.

His impressive client list at UTA includes renowned figures such as Michaela Coel, Malala Yousafzai, the creators of the BBC/HBO hit series Industry (Mickey Down and Konrad Kay), Grace Wales Bonner, Jonathan Anderson, Jon Batiste, Karlie Kloss, Jose Andres, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Alexis Ohanian, and i-D Magazine.

UTA CEO David Kramer expressed strong confidence in Strom’s appointment, stating, “This marks an exciting new chapter for UTA. Darnell has long been a connector across departments, industries, and geographies. His deep relationships and creative vision make him uniquely suited to lead this next phase of our international expansion.” Strom himself affirmed his commitment, remarking, “London is one of the most dynamic and creative markets in the world, and UTA has only scratched the surface of what’s possible here. I’m honoured to lead our next phase of growth working with the incredible team we have in London, to build a stronger and more connected UTA across London, Europe and beyond.”

The agency’s strategic move to bolster its London presence follows the opening of its circa-150-staff London office between Fitzrovia and Soho in 2023, approximately 12 months after the acquisition of Curtis Brown. Kramer previously noted UTA’s learned approach to international expansion, emphasizing an embedded strategy rather than a perceived ‘American invasion,’ ensuring integration and connectivity across its European operations to unlock new business opportunities and drive regional growth.