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The Gersh Agency just announced it'll be moving into larger corporate offices and launching a new corporate identity on its 60th anniversary. From now on, it'll be known by the single name "Gersh" with a new logo. 
In addition, the company is moving into new 35,000 squary feet office space at 9465 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The agency recently expanded by adding two divisions: veteran producer Jay Cohen was hired to head up a new Film Financing and Packaging division, and William Morris agent Roland Scahill was hired to head up a Theatrical Tour Booking division out of the New York office. The agency also recently hired former Endeavor agent Daisy Wu in its talent department. Gersh now has a total of 65 agents in both LA and New York, with 11 partners. David and Bob Gersh are joint Presidents, and Leslie Siebert is managing partner.
What's not in today's announcement is that a 3rd generation Gersh was recently added at the agency: 26-year-old Steve Gersh, an alumnus of USC film school's Stark grad program. 
He's already repping up and comers like Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) and Autumn Reeser (Entourage). He's the grandson of founder Phil Gersh and son of current agency co-head David Gersh. In a Q-&-A with Angeleno magazine, Steve reveals "the reality is that I am unemployable anywhere else without changing my name. This business fosters a competitive atmosphere, to say the least." And on the subject of nepotism, Steve calls it "a double-edged sword. Everyone looks closer at what I do, but I'm in this for the long run, so they'll [eventually] understand what I'm about." Asked if his life has been defined by agenting, Steve replied, "My memories go way back. I'd be driving to Dodgers games with my dad and he'd be rolling calls on his phone, securing back-end agreements."
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What a tool.
Wow, I think the biggest step that Agency took was making it into this blog.
They’ve repped me for a long time, on call 24/7, work their asses off. I wish them all the very best.
Lame. Lame.
They wanted an acronym to badly but didnt want to go TGA.
“Gersh” is like “New Coke.” They should have just left it alone.
Now they just need a stupid logo to compete with WME2(squared)
I heard that the new offices are amazing. Also, saw the article in Angeleno about Steve. I’ve worked with him in the past and he’s savvy and a very hard worker.
Round 16 of Brickbreaker is a bitch, Steve.
Gersh is still one of the best agencies in town. Regardless of it’s lack of now “Big 4″ – it should be counted amongst the new “Big 5.” Their coverage rocks, they have good taste in who they sign and their agents are helpful.
Gersh is great. No flash, no drama, just hard-working and smart folks from the top to the bottom.
It doesn’t rub me the wrong way that someone’s son made agent at Gersh. After all, wouldn’t we all hook up our kids if we had the opportunity?
But what I’m curious about is: what did Steve have to do to make agent? Did he go through the mailroom? How long did it take him to make agent? How many desks was he on, and whose desks were they? Was his length as an assistant the normal time for Gersh? And did he actually sign those clients, or were they passed off to him by a senior agent?
Now there’s a story I’m interested in.
“the reality is that I am unemployable anywhere else without changing my name.”
Um, choose any field outside entertainment and you should be able to find a gig (well, not in today’s economy, but at some point I would think.)
If I change my last name to Gersh can I get an agent position too? (Okay, yes, I’m jealous. Seems like a bright kid, too.)
Uh…was this logo designed by the same folks that did the WME logo?
Steve Gersh is the opposite of every stereotype about kids who grew up in Hollywood. He obviously knows the business inside and out, but he also has a great educational background — Duke undergrad, the Stark program — and a phenomenal work ethic. He’s going to be a star for them for the next 40 years.
So relieved a guy named Gersh can find a job in this town…whew!
oh god what a tool. i am sure the assistants waiting for a promotion based on job performance are thrilled with him.
And on the subject of nepotism, Steve calls it “a double-edged sword. Everyone looks closer at what I do, but I’m in this for the long run, so they’ll [eventually] understand what I’m about.”
But he left out, and if they don’t understand, well they’ll be gone and I’ll still be here.
Steve is a throwback to old-school agenting: a self-deprecating motormouth smart guy with the patience and wit to handle top talent. He’ll go far.
As a client I’ve been happy. In this climate of consolidation, fear and confusion I feel comfortable that my ‘team’ is putting in hard work and I’m thrilled they are consolidating and growing…
Signed,
Happy Client
Having dealt with both Jay and Roland since they joined Gersh, I have to say that they are both true gentleman and workers (who return phone calls, shockingly!)- they get things done
The best move that Gersh made was not it’s logo or it’s brand name, but grabbing Roland Scahill from William Morris to head it’s Theatre wing. Roland is the best bull dog in the business! William Morris will regret not doing everything in there power to keep him. There downfall.
Jay Cohen is a smart guy.
Good move by Gersh.
The reality is that this kid was 10 times more qualified coming out of the Stark program than any of those assistants. Sure there are a lot of entitled a-holes coming through there – but it is the best for a reason.
Besides the fact he grew up at an agency. So he’s basically be on a top desk for 26 years of his life.
Jealousy is horrible thing, and when you put down a young guy who you’ve never met – who is humble enough to say what he said – than you should take a look in the mirror and think real hard why you feel the way you do.
Gersh is a really hard working agency. Putting them down because their clients don’t go by the names Pitt and Spielberg is just dumb.
What bothers me the most are the bitter assistants who post on here – with their own sense of entitlement. Just because you have been rolling calls for a year or two (or five for the more clueless) doesn’t qualify you or give you a right to be promoted to agent or executive.
Anyone have a link to this article in the Angeleno?
Steve Gersh was already an agent at another company; he didn’t just spring from the womb and into an office. What business are you people in? Does Nikki have followers in the farming industry?
Every one know’s Gersh is a joke.
What you talkin’ ’bout, Gary Coleman?
The negative comments about nepotism here are completely baseless. Steve is by far one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met, has an excellent track record, and has the perfect mind/attitude to be incredibly successful in the business. He’d be just as excellent of an agent if his name weren’t Gersh. You’re going to be hearing about this guy for a loooong time.
So for those of you butt kissing assistants at Gersh trying to get on sonny boy’s good side claiming he knows the business inside and out, he’s worked his butt off, and he’s great with talent, tell me why he had the wherewithall to tell a room full of acquisitions execs to get their check books ready at a screening of his buddy’s student film Palo Alto. The next time I saw that film it was on Netflix streaming grouped with all the other crap that was too bland for even a direct to DVD pickup.
Who was the marketing team on that logo… Microsoft Word?
Arial size 20. Real novel, folks.
Looks like a good foundation for their film group with Cohen and Wu. Good luck to Gersh.
Yeah, as much of a toolbag Steve was, you can’t knock his work ethic or the fact that he busted ass to get where he is.
He worked a hell of a lot harder than most of Gersh’s agents did while I was there and never complained about his role as an assistant.
After I left Gersh, I checked up on them by asking, ‘has Steve got promoted YET?’.
He was a total little douche, but a damn hard worker. If his last name was Smith and he worked just as hard, he might have actually got promoted sooner. He seemed contint with making his own path at his own pace.
I know quite a few assistants that made agent there that still haven’t done a real deal. (Cough, chris fiolo… cough, cough- carlos)
what job has autumn reeser had in two years?
I really don’t think the Stark program or being the kid of an agent really qualifies as being a top agent. Especially at the age of 26. Most assistants and agent trainees at the bigger places of JD’s and MBA’s from Ivy League schools or other top notch schools.
While Duke is one of them, I really never heard of Duke turning out the top talent in the entertainment industry. However if I want a good lacrosse player maybe I will go to Duke.
God bless nepotism.
I’m not going to criticize their sort-of name change, that’s between them and their marketing gurus, and I’m not going to know Steve Gersh joining the business. It’s a family business, so it’s natural that a Gersh would be brought it, the same as if they owned a store, a garage, or a plumbing business. If they’ve taught him well, and he’s got the hustle in his bones, he could do very well. I wish him well, because being the 3rd generation in a family business is a tough position.
What I don’t understand is the agency’s request that all employees change their name to Gersh. That seems a tad odd to me.
Hey “Curious”. You didn’t necessarily sound antagonistic or jealous in your post but the reality is…who gives an f?!?! Welcome to Hollywood bro! The kid made it. Good for him “tool” (other post-er) or not. And if he graduated and was handed an office and assistant the day after graduation…who cares??? If he can’t get the job done, his name won’t save him forever.
To brag about myself, I dropped out of a JUNIOR COLLEGE 3 semesters in to do a movie. 1 thing led to another, I landed an asst. gig at 1 huge agency, boss and I moved to another huge agency where I was eventually promoted to full agent. I had top of their class Harvard Law School grads fetching ME coffee and asking ME advice (Which I always made time for).
World ain’t fair. Do what you can with what you are given…or don’t. In Hollywood my friend, no one will notice either way unless it affects “them”.
considering the long legacy of nepotism in this business, I must say that Steve is probably the hardest-working most down-to-earth young talent agent around.
and just for the record, the kid interned here (not just “hung out” but covered desks) every summer and spent just as much time in the internal assistant ranks as most of the agents that have been promoted internally. (I’m sorry you didn’t hear that he was hired as an assistant – does that make the news these days?) those are his clients, not hand-me-downs.
considering who his dad is and his grandfather was (RIP Phil – a class act if there ever was one), I would say he is a chip off the old block. you can’t buy or birth your way into Duke or Stark so that should say a lot.
and hey – an agency expanding… in this climate. whatever your sour grapes are, it looks like they are doing something right.
Let’s see what the kid can do. I want to believe in people and hope they will treat people in the way human beings are to be treated. If he does, he will get far and people will root for him. If he decides to act like an idiot like Michael Cooper from WME then he’s got problems. Major ones. I hope this kid does well in a way that brings him respect. If not, he will have many enemies like Cooper does. Michael Cooper is a dispicable human being and many people within his agency want him to fail. Let’s hope this kid is smarter.
As a manager with clients at Gersh, I can’t say enough good things about them in both film and tv. I’ve been beyond impressed. They actually think and act proactively. Do you have any idea how RARE that is these days?
Great to see Gersh expanding and moving up. They work hard and deserve all of their success.
Garycoleman-
could not agree more.
This kid is far more qualified out of school then most assistants who have been on desks for years. He knew what AGR was probably at the age of 14. My assistant is a numbnut. What can I say, I speak the truth.
That said, he probably had the agent douchbaggery thing at the age of 15, so what else was he going to do? At least he working for a living and not living off the old man’s money.
Steve Gersh is kind of a dueche.
HOWEVER, you can’t falt his knowledge, qualifications, or work ethic. And by the way, he put in his dues at Gersh even going back to being a summer intern before becoming an assistant. He’d been on a partner’s desk for quite some time, and yes, earned his promotion.
If you want to hate him….hating for being a bit of a dueche….not the nicest guy in the world….but not for his work ethics, qualifications or achievements.
The irony is that he takes after and looks more like his Uncle than his father……Hmmm……..
But, kudos to him. It may have been a little easier for him to get where he is than for others to have done the same, but he has earned it no less.
Arrarently Mr.Dave is sprucing up the place to retire with his art and money and sell GERSH. Thereby positiong his son as a partner in a larger global entity. Dave is shrewd knows his players and look for the change to take place after the first of the year
Looking around the corner
I like his humility and humor re: his position, agree that his edu background is a major competitive advantage regardless of who paid for it (those programs are no joke, and you sure as hell can’t sleepwalk through the Stark in particular), and also fully understand that “learning at the knee” has benefits both tangible and intangible that cannot be duplicated in any other fashion. All else being equal, I’d be fucking thrilled to be repped by a guy with those options and insights who nonetheless CHOSE that track, and is apparently kicking ass at it. Good for him, and all the better for his clients.
What makes him necessarily any less qualified? Odd are, he’s smart, and if he really can’t cut it, it’ll be obvious, and if he is a douchebag, he’ll make a great agent.
At least he’s not Johnny Paradigm or Chad Innovative. Now that would suck!
Christ, can we please retire the term ‘douche’ (or ‘dueche’ — is that the French spelling?)? It’s like, if one guy says it, everybody has to say it.
If Gersh were a family of plumbers, say, or some other family of craftsmen (and women), having a grandson school and train to learn the craft of his father’s fathers would be a highly regarded committment. People come on Nikke’s blog just to snark for snark’s sake. I love me some Nikke, but using this board as an excuse for endless, baseless vitriol gets really, really tiresome.
Nobody has a problem with a plumbing company going back 3 generations, what’s the problem here? Gersh is a family business. Always has been. I don’t understand the jealousy. I’d be absolutely dismayed if my son wanted to follow in my footsteps and enter the film industry. For all we know, David Gersh may have hoped his kid would become a doctor.
hey man.. he did the MFA so that his dad would respect him. leave the kid alone. i know im finishing college even though I dont need to be hearing anything from anyone, as a screenwriter…except my editor. WAKE UP. ITS 8 AM IN NEW YORK. MAN THE PHONES- YOURE AGENTS!
The funny thing is that half of you idiots can’t put together more than two sentences without a spelling or grammatical error, yet you whine about this kid, his impressive resume and his “fortunate son” status? If it weren’t for Entertainment High aka Hollywood, none of you “douches” would have jobs right now.