CAA, Kwan ink 50:50 joint-venture for entertainment

NEW DELHI: American entertainment and sports firm Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has forged a 50:50 joint venture with Indian talent management firm Kwan Entertainment & Marketing Solutions. The JV, called CAA Kwan, will represent local talent in India and neighbouring countries, besides creating global opportunities for clients in movies and television, commercial endorsements, sports consulting and licensing and merchandising, a joint statement by both firms announced.

The Los Angeles-based CAA works with close to 2,000 celebrities and firms across entertainment and sports including Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and sporting heavyweights such as footballers David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. In addition, CAA has a division called The Intelligence Group -- a market research and trend forecasting company.

Kwan, which represents actors such as Ranbir Kapoor Genelia D'souza and Frieda Pinto, operates across various entertainment verticals including celebrity endorsements, talent representation, marketing, events, fashion, and sports. Blah, formerly CEO of sports management company Globosport, had founded Kwan in ‘09.

CAA President Richard Lovett said in a statement: “India’s robust entertainment industry offers CAA KWAN huge opportunities for talent… Kwan has already scaled up and diversified its business to maximise the industry’s potential.”

Two CAA officials, David Taghioff and Caleb Franklin, along with Kwan CEO and MD Anirban Das Blah and COO Indranil Das Blah, will lead the JV.

“The combination of CAA’s experience and influence, along with our knowledge of the Indian entertainment industry will enable us to provide unmatched services,” Blah said.