Former ICM chairman Jeff Berg has launched Resolution, a new talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York that aims to shake up an established hierarchy of agencies in Hollywood.
The agency will represent clients spanning film, television, theater, music, publishing, digital and marketing. It will also provide financial and consulting services to major companies and help smaller companies raise capital.
Berg, who left ICM Partners in October, will be chairman of the new company. Longtime music agent and entrepreneur Jeff Franklin will serve as chief operating officer while former WME executive Laura Li will be its chief financial officer.
Jahm Najafi, CEO of private investment firm Najafi Companies, has provided the financial muscle behind the new agency.
“There is no smarter, strategic and knowledgeable agent than Jeff Berg,” Najafi, who will hold a seat on the board of directors, said in a statement. “We look forward to sharing and building this progressive agency in an evolving entertainment marketplace.”
Deadline Hollywood, which first reported details about the new agency, said that Berg has already enlisted literary agents Rich Green from CAA and Shari Smiley from her own company. Abram Nabolitsky of Gersh will also join. While other names have been bandied about, Monday’s release makes no mention of any agent hires or major clients.
The next step for the company is clear.
“With new office space secured and construction completed, our focus is to now expand the recruitment of agents to create a new enduring institution in our industry,” Franklin said in a statement.
While Berg was long one of the most powerful agents in Hollywood, it remains to be seen how much pull he will have in luring agents to his new shop.
