Curtis Brown Group
Curtis Brown Group is a London-based, 134-year-old talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, and authors. It negotiates representation deals, brand partnerships, and media rights arrangements, and has been part of UTA since 2022.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1890
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Curtis Brown Group does
Curtis Brown Group is a London-based, privately held talent and literary agency founded around 1890, making it one of the longest-established agencies in the world. The group represents best-selling authors, actors, screenwriters, playwrights, directors, and TV presenters, and operates through its core Curtis Brown brand plus five sub-brands: Curtis Brown Creative (writers and directors), CWA (actors and presenters), Cuba Pictures (independent film and TV production), Markham Froggatt Irwin (theatre/film performers), and Tavistock Wood (integrated PR and talent management).
The company's product surface spans talent representation for film, television, and theatre, literary representation for authors, media rights placement (including book-to-film/TV adaptation deals), and negotiation of brand partnerships ranging from one-off appearances to long-term ambassadorships with fashion houses. Agents engage talent at varying career stages and negotiate tiered arrangements from unpaid appearances through to seven- or eight-figure face-to-campaign deals. The business model is commission-based, earning transaction fees on deals negotiated on behalf of clients; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated individually.
In 2022, the group was acquired by United Talent Agency (UTA) for $55 million in a minority stake transaction that enabled founder liquidity and succession planning while retaining operational leadership. Headcount sits in the 101-250 range, the operating status remains active, and the company continues to handle both UK and international mandates, including a 2026 audiovisual rights option with Gaumont USA for Gareth Gore's 'Opus'. A CFO departure in May 2026 introduces near-term leadership transition risk during the post-acquisition integration period.
Curtis Brown Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Curtis Brown Group
- Legal name
- Curtis Brown Group
- Website
- https://curtisbrown.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1890
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Curtis Brown Group is a London-based, 134-year-old talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, and authors. It negotiates representation deals, brand partnerships, and media rights arrangements, and has been part of UTA since 2022.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Curtis Brown Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Talent and Literary Agency Services
- NAICS
- Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Talent Agency & Representation Services (HSACAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Brand Partnerships & Endorsement Agencies (MPAIAGAF), Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring (MPADAAAK), Creator Partnerships & Sponsorship Sales (Brand Partnerships) (MPAAAHAK)
Keywords
Where Curtis Brown Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Curtis Brown Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Talent Representation Services: Curtis Brown represents talent including actors, writers, directors, and other entertainment professionals, earning commissions on deals negotiated on their behalf. The agency also represents literary clients including authors, placing media rights and negotiating publishing deals.
- Brand Partnership Negotiation: Agency agents negotiate paid brand partnerships for talent appearances, including Oscars red carpet looks, ambassadorships, and face-to-campaign deals. Deal values range from five figures for one-off appearances to seven or eight figures for long-term ambassadorships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Curtis Brown Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Curtis Brown Group is a London-based talent and literary agency representing actors, authors, writers, directors, presenters, and other entertainment professionals. Agents negotiate paid brand partnerships, including red carpet looks, ambassadorships, and face-to-campaign deals, alongside media rights sales and book-to-screen adaptation deals for literary clients. Revenue is generated through commissions on the deals negotiated across film, television, theatre, publishing, and fashion sectors.
Product overview
Curtis Brown Group is a unified talent and entertainment agency platform consisting of Curtis Brown (core agency) and five subsidiary/affiliated brands: Curtis Brown Creative (writers and directors), CWA (actors and presenters), Cuba Pictures (production), Markham Froggatt Irwin (performers), and Tavistock Wood (PR and talent management). The group operates collectively as a diversified entertainment representation business, negotiating brand partnerships, managing literary rights, and representing talent across film, television, theatre, and media. The group was acquired by UTA in 2022 for $55 million.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CW Agency: Creative Writers Agency - literary and creative talent representation
- Cuba Pictures
- Curtis Brown Creative
- Markham Froggatt & Irwin
- Tavistock Wood
Products and services
- Curtis Brown (Core Talent and Literary Agency) Full-service talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, authors, and other entertainment professionals for film, television, theatre, and publishing representation.
- Curtis Brown Creative
Quantifiable outcome
- Deal values ranging from five figures for one-off appearances to seven or eight figures for long-term ambassadorships
Companies that use Curtis Brown Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Curtis Brown Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Curtis Brown Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Gaumont USAcoreGaumont USA optioned the audiovisual rights to 'Opus' by Gareth Gore, with the media rights deal negotiated between Gaumont USA and Curtis Brown's media rights team. Curtis Brown represents author Gareth Gore and facilitated the book-to-screen adaptation deal. The project will be developed into a film or television targeting Spanish and global audiences.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Curtis Brown Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ICM Partners: Major U.S. talent and literary agency (now part of CAA) historically representing actors, authors, directors, and screenwriters. Direct competitor in literary rights and talent representation categories.
- Independent Talent Group: One of the UK's largest independently owned talent and literary agencies, directly competing with Curtis Brown for actors, writers, and directors in the London and international markets. Highly comparable in business model, client mix, and UK-headquartered boutique structure.
- PBJ Management: UK-based talent management company representing actors and creatives. Comparable boutique model focused on talent representation in the British entertainment market.
- Paradigm Talent Agency: U.S. talent agency with strong literary division representing authors and screenwriters for film/TV adaptations. Comparable in literary rights representation and book-to-screen deal flow.
- Conway van Gelder Grant: London-based actors' agency representing performers across film, television, and theatre. Directly comparable boutique UK talent agency competing for similar client rosters.
- United Agents: Major UK talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, and presenters. Direct competitor with overlapping client base and similar commission-based revenue model.
- Hamilton Hodell: London-based talent agency focused on representing actors for film, television, and theatre. Closely comparable in market positioning, client type, and UK boutique agency profile.
- Brillstein Entertainment Partners: Talent management and production company representing actors, writers, and directors with integrated brand partnership capabilities. Comparable in blended talent-management-plus-brand-partnerships model.
Broad incumbents
- CAA (Creative Artists Agency): Largest global talent and sports agency, controlling a leading share of the entertainment representation market. Overlaps with Curtis Brown across talent, literary, and brand partnership categories but operates a diversified platform across many verticals.
- WME (William Morris Endeavor): One of the 'Big Three' global talent agencies controlling a major share of the market. Represents actors, writers, directors, and broader entertainment talent worldwide, overlapping with Curtis Brown's categories but at vastly greater scale and with diversified services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Curtis Brown Group social profiles
Digital presenceCurtis Brown Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Curtis Brown Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Curtis Brown Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Curtis Brown Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Curtis Brown Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Curtis Brown Group
What does Curtis Brown Group do?
Curtis Brown Group is a London-based talent and literary agency representing actors, authors, writers, directors, presenters, and other entertainment professionals. Agents negotiate paid brand partnerships, including red carpet looks, ambassadorships, and face-to-campaign deals, alongside media rights sales and book-to-screen adaptation deals for literary clients. Revenue is generated through commissions on the deals negotiated across film, television, theatre, publishing, and fashion sectors.
Is Curtis Brown Group a public or private company?
Curtis Brown Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Curtis Brown Group founded?
Curtis Brown Group was founded in 1890. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Curtis Brown Group based?
Curtis Brown Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Curtis Brown Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Talent Representation Services are the primary driver. The others are brand Partnership Negotiation.
Who are Curtis Brown Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ICM Partners, Independent Talent Group, PBJ Management, Paradigm Talent Agency, Conway van Gelder Grant, United Agents, Hamilton Hodell and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Broad incumbents are CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and WME (William Morris Endeavor).
Does Curtis Brown Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Curtis Brown Group.
What industry is Curtis Brown Group in?
Curtis Brown Group's product category is Talent and Literary Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAHAK, Talent Agency & Representation Services, with a secondary code of MPAIAGAF, Brand Partnerships & Endorsement Agencies. Its NAICS code is 711410 and its SIC code is 7311.