EXCLUSIVE: Gersh has promoted veteran agents Debra Goldfarb and Mark Turner to Co-Heads of Alternative.
The pair take the top job from Alec Shankman, who transitioned into management at the start of the year. Others newly promoted at Gersh include Annie Gaspar (Talent), Sydney Rosenzweig (Digital), Marisa Yocca (Digital) and Brett Bennett (Alternative) to Agent.
A Partner at Gersh with more than three decades of experience in alternative and unscripted television, Goldfarb joined the agency in 2017 and will continue to rep leading talent and production companies while expanding the agency’s unscripted slate, including opportunities at the intersection of entertainment and sports. She began her career at William Morris, rising through the ranks to represent on-camera talent, producers, and production companies, before joining CAA, where she helped co-launch the Alternative Reality department, and becoming a Partner and Co-Owner of Rebel Entertainment Partners.
With three decades of experience across unscripted television and digital media, Turner began his career at Abrams Artists Agency, where he launched the Host/Broadcast Division and helped build it into a leading force in unscripted programming. Over the course of his career, he has represented high-profile hosts, personalities, and experts, later expanding into digital media to represent creators and production companies shaping the new media landscape. He joined Gersh as Senior Vice President of Alternative Programming in January 2024.
“Debra and Mark each bring deep experience and a strong track record, and both have played a meaningful role in building and advancing Gersh’s Alternative business,” the agency’s President Leslie Siebert said. “Their leadership and long-standing relationships have helped shape the department into what it is today, and we’re confident they will continue to drive its growth and success. We’re also proud to recognize this broader group of promotions across the agency, which reflect the depth of our teams and our commitment to developing talent internally.”
New promotee Bennett began his career at ICM Partners and A3 before joining Gersh as part of the acquisition of A3’s Digital and Alternative divisions in 2024. His work spans the Alternative department as well as the agency’s brand retainer clients.
Gaspar started her career at 3 Arts Entertainment before moving to New York and working for the Tribeca Festival. She joined Gersh as an assistant in Talent before being promoted to coordinator in 2024.
Rosenzweig began her career as a digital assistant at A3 before joining Gersh through the agency’s acquisition. She was promoted to coordinator in the Digital department later that year.
Yocca joined Gersh through the acquisition of A3, where she had worked as an assistant in the Digital department. She was previously promoted to coordinator in 2024.
Gersh has also recently made numerous promotions to Coordinator. Those elevating to that post include Samantha Epstein (Talent), Tommy Harnage (Talent), Blake Maley (Talent), Annabelle Cook (Digital), Chinazam Nnorom (Digital), Alicia Chen (Below the Line), Kamiran Waddle (Below the Line), Hope Lawson (TV Lit), and Donovan Wong (TV Lit).
The promotions come during a period of significant growth at Gersh, including the recent appointments of Jessica Lacy as Head of Film Finance and Distribution and April Tombs as Head of Branding & Endorsements, the agency’s expansion into 17 countries, and the launch of new divisions in digital, voice, and sports representation.