UTA has named Bob Roback, a veteran music and tech exec and entrepreneur, as its chief operating officer.
Reporting to CEO Jeremy Zimmer and President David Kramer, Roback will also be a partner and join UTA’s board of directors.
As COO, Roback will oversee overall business operations as well as areas like growth, strategy and technology.
Roback’s career spans content, digital consumer services and consumer products, as well as B-to-B platforms and marketplaces. Most recently, he spent seven years as CEO of Ingrooves Music Group, a music and marketing business that is now part of Universal Music Group. Prior to that, Roback served as president and a member of the board of directors of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. He also co-founded several companies, including Dashbox, The Media Farm and Launch Media, which became Yahoo Music.
“I’m delighted to welcome Bob Roback to UTA,” Zimmer said in the official announcement. “Throughout his accomplished career, Bob has built and led multiple businesses at the intersection of entertainment and technology, and he will be a valued partner at UTA as we help our clients thrive in an increasingly global and complex marketplace.” The chief exec added his acknowledgement of “the many contributions of Andrew Thau, who served as our COO since 2007 and became co-head of UTA Sports last year. I’m excited for what Andrew will accomplish as he focuses full-time on building out our sports presence in the global arena.”
Roback’s “experience and approach make him an ideal fit in UTA’s entrepreneurial and future-focused culture,” Kramer said. “Artists, athletes and brands are looking to participate globally across every part of the entertainment landscape, and Bob will help ensure we continue to operate at a level that exemplifies best-in-class representation.”
UTA has continued to diversify its operations via internal investments, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. On Monday, Thau and Rich Paul, founder of the UTA-backed Klutch Sports Group and Co-Head of UTA Sports, announced the acquisition of soccer-focused agency ROOF, which reps top players in Europe and elsewhere.
“I’ve long admired UTA’s dedication to its clients and ability to lead the way in defining what it means to be a global agency during a time of tremendous change and opportunity,” said Roback. “I’m thrilled to be joining the company at this exciting time and look forward to shaping the future with UTA’s talented and ambitious team.”