Full-Time
Associate Director
The.Team
1-10 employees
Entertainment payroll, business affairs, talent management
No salary listed
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Hybrid
Based in Dubai with remote/flexible options; expect travel between UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.
 Business & Strategy (1) |
|---|
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- Experience in sponsorship industry and passion for sports and entertainment sector
- Strong client management skills and ability to lead day-to-day relationship with client
- Subject matter expertise within tennis industry and knowledge of global tennis ecosystem including rights holders, governing bodies, tournaments and players
- Ability to develop and manage strategic relationships across sport and identify commercial opportunities
- Willingness to travel between UAE and KSA, and to other countries in the region as required
- Based in Wasserman’s UAE offices with remote and flexible working options and ability to work with colleagues across the Middle East and global team
- Experience in leading activation planning and delivery, and integrated activation planning
- Experience in line management or team leadership of account team members
- Ability to manage project timelines, budgets, task tracking, and other documents and to lead ideation sessions and creative development
- Ability to join client in-house meetings and provide subject matter expertise as needed
- Experience in coordinating across internal stakeholders, rights holders, suppliers, and other parts of the wider Wasserman business for client servicing
- Strategic Account Management: Leading the relationship with the client, and day-to-day management
- Developing relationships with key stakeholders in the client’s in-house teams
- Leading on client strategy updates and project planning
- Building the integrated activation plan, ensuring alignment with the broader sponsorship strategy
- Effectively leading regular project and status meetings with the clients and internally within the team
- Leading the development and management of project timelines, budgets, task-tracking and other documents
- Manage internal and external ideation sessions and creative development
- Support the relationships and management of internal stakeholders, rights holders & suppliers
- Overseeing the team in implementation of all aspects of the account touch points including; general rights delivery, live event delivery, digital & social strategies, PR & Comms and guest management
- Join client in-house meetings as required, and provide subject matter expertise where needed
- Lead the collaboration across other parts of the wider Wasserman business to ensure best possible client servicing
- Line management of Account Team members
- Previous experience within Tennis is advantageous but not essential
The.Team provides payroll, business affairs, and talent management services for advertising, music, and live entertainment. It handles employer-of-record payroll for union and non-union talent, crew, musicians, and staff, and offers cloud-based production accounting for cost management, job costing, and profit analysis. For talent and rights holders, it processes payments (session fees and residuals), manages contracts, and tracks licensed content and publishing administration. Its goal is to help productions pay talent accurately, stay compliant, and manage costs and rights, supported by its 2021 acquisition by Cast & Crew to expand reach.
Company Size
1-10
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
1992
Get referred to The.Team
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Providence's July 28, 2026 buyout funds organic growth and strategic M&A.
- May 28, 2026 hires Belinda Law and Ishsha Bourguet strengthen London expansion.
- Massive Attack signed May 14, 2026, signaling momentum in marquee live-music bookings.
What critics are saying
- Casey Wasserman's Epstein-file fallout triggered 2026 client exits and permanent brand damage.
- Providence closes full ownership in H2 2026, creating integration risk and founder-culture loss.
- UTA, WIN, and PE bidders exposed buyer interest, proving top talent can shop elsewhere.
What makes The.Team unique
- Providence-backed global agency spans 28 countries and 70 cities as of July 2026.
- THE•TEAM bundles sports, music, and entertainment under one cross-vertical client platform.
- Mike Watts, CEO-designate since February 2026, provides unusually deep continuity.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours
Company News
Marty Diamond, EVP & Managing Executive the.team, to be honored as international Music Person of the Year at musexpo 2027. MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net), the renowned global music business conference and showcase event will celebrate its landmark 27th global edition from March 21-24, 2027, returning to the "Media Capital of the World," Burbank, California. As part of a weeklong series of premier industry events, including the Global Sync & Brands Summit, the A&R Summit, and other exclusive programming, MUSEXPO will once again unite the world's leading executives, creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and artists to explore the future of music, entertainment, media, and technology. As part of its 2027 programming, MUSEXPO is proud to announce that Marty Diamond, EVP & Managing Executive at THE·TEAM, will be presented with its prestigious "International Music Person of the Year" award. The honor will take place on Tuesday, March 23, 2027, during a special VIP Awards Luncheon at the iconic Castaway in Burbank. The event will bring together distinguished executives, artists, managers, agents, promoters, and industry leaders from around the world to celebrate Marty's extraordinary contributions to the live global music business. Official proclamations will also be presented by representatives from the State of California, the County of Los Angeles, and the City of Burbank in recognition of Marty's exceptional career, enduring influence, and remarkable impact on the worldwide music industry. Prior to the luncheon, MUSEXPO will host an exclusive keynote conversation with Marty Diamond, offering attendees an insightful look into his remarkable journey as one of the most respected and influential booking executives in modern music history. The conversation will explore his philosophy on artist development, the evolution of the global touring business, and the leadership principles that have defined his extraordinary career. Marty Diamond is widely recognized as one of the music industry's most legendary live entertainment executives and among its most influential booking agents. Throughout a career spanning several decades, he has earned an unparalleled reputation for identifying generational talent, building enduring artist careers, and creating the touring strategies that have transformed emerging acts into global superstars. As EVP & Managing Executive at THE·TEAM, Diamond continues to help shape the future of live entertainment while representing many of the world's most successful touring artists. Prior to joining THE·TEAM, Diamond served as Head of Global Music at Paradigm Talent Agency, where he played an instrumental role in expanding the agency's worldwide presence and artist roster. His visionary approach to artist representation, combined with an unwavering commitment to long-term career development, has earned him multiple Pollstar "Agent of the Year" honors and widespread recognition as one of the industry's most accomplished executives. Diamond has played a pivotal role in THE·TEAM's establishment and accelerated growth while overseeing an extraordinary roster that includes some of music's biggest touring artists, such as Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, alongside today's most exciting global stars, including RAYE, Tyla, and FLO. His distinguished client roster also features acclaimed artists including Alessia Cara, Bastille, Blur, Damien Rice, David Gray, Liam Gallagher, Lorde, Louis Tomlinson, Sia, Sigur Rós, and Wet Leg, as well as rising talents including Niko Rubio, Cat Burns, Dylan, Elyanna, Lovejoy, Ryan Beatty, and Slayyyter. Driven by a lifelong passion for artist development, live performance, and global touring, Diamond has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to guide both stadium-level superstars and the next generation of culture-defining artists. His leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering dedication to the artist community have made him one of the most respected figures in the international live music business. Sat Bisla, President & Founder of A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO, stated, "Marty Diamond has helped define the modern global touring business through his exceptional vision, integrity, and unwavering commitment to artists. Throughout his remarkable career, he has played an instrumental role in developing many of the world's most successful live acts while continually championing emerging talent destined for international success. His leadership, innovation, and lasting impact on the worldwide music community make him an exceptionally deserving recipient of MUSEXPO's "International Music Person of the Year" honor. We are delighted to celebrate his extraordinary achievements and enduring contributions to the global music industry." Past recipients of MUSEXPO's "International Music Person of the Year" honor include some of the music industry's most influential global executives, including Kirk M. Sommer (WME), Monte and Avery Lipman (Republic Records), Jacqueline Saturn (Virgin Music Group), Mandar Thakur (Times Music Group, India), Daniel Glass (Glassnote Entertainment), Alexandra Patsavas (Netflix), Steve Schnur (Electronic Arts), and Harvey Goldsmith (Live Aid, Live Earth), Lisa Worden (iHeartMedia), amongst others. For more details about MUSEXPO 2027, speaker updates, showcase opportunities, and event registration, please visit www.musexpo.net. device: pc
James Eichman signs with Ground Control Touring for worldwide representation. August 1, 2026 New Representation Type: Agency Department: Live Music / Touring Territory: Worldwide * James Eichman has signed with Lindsay Ibberson and Tommy Alexander of Ground Control Touring for worldwide live music and touring representation. * He continues with Made In Management for artist management. * He continues with Made In Management for artist management. James Eichman, the Nashville-born multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, has signed with Ground Control Touring (GCT) for worldwide live music and touring representation. Agents Lindsay Ibberson and Tommy Alexander will handle his bookings. On the management side, Eichman continues with Made In Management, a relationship that stays in place under the new deal. A longtime fixture of Nashville's DIY scene, Eichman has spent recent years playing guitar for Annie DiRusso, Baby Wave, Hannah Cole and Emma Ogier, while also fronting his own projects, McKay and Super Hero. After a string of self-released singles and EPs over the past two years, he's now preparing his debut solo album, St. Catherine Street, out later this summer. Produced with Josef Kuhn, the record has been previewed by singles "4am" and "Paper Plate," both leaning into the introspective, story-driven folk-rock sound that's drawn comparisons to The Shins, Nick Drake, and Alex G. Eichman recently played a run of dates alongside singer-songwriter Oscar Lindsey, who is also on Alexander's GCT roster, giving the new deal some built-in symmetry. The signing adds Eichman to a Ground Control Touring roster that's been especially active in 2026. The agency recently reunited with longtime client Miniature Tigers, brought Colour Revolt back into the fold nearly two decades after their Interscope-backed debut, and signed singer-songwriter Kate Stephenson to Alexander's own client list for worldwide bookings. Alexander, who joined GCT's Nashville office in March 2026 from THE·TEAM, represents a roster that is heavily Americana- and folk-leaning, including Willi Carlisle, Anna Tivel, and Kassi Valazza, making Eichman's alt-Americana sound a natural addition. Founded in 2000 by Eric Dimenstein and Jim Romeo, GCT operates out of Brooklyn and Los Angeles and represents more than 600 artists, including Bright Eyes, Waxahatchee, Japanese Breakfast, and Kurt Vile. The boutique agency marked its 25th anniversary last year and has since launched a dedicated festivals department. This reads less like a shake-up and more like an artist building out real infrastructure right as his moment arrives. Eichman spent years as a reliable sideman before stepping into the spotlight himself, and landing a worldwide deal with a boutique agency of GCT's stature, timed to his debut album, suggests his team sees genuine headline and festival potential once St. Catherine Street lands. Keeping Made In Management in place while adding touring muscle also points to a targeted expansion rather than an overhaul. Will St. Catherine Street's release come paired with a GCT-booked headline run or festival dates? Does pairing him with Alexander's Americana-heavy client list hint at how GCT is positioning his sound?
Wasserman to sell remaining stake in The Team to Providence. The private equity firm will complete its takeover of the major agency before the end of the year News By Hanna Ellington | 29 July 2026 Ending months-long speculation of who would acquire Casey Wasserman's talent agency, Providence Equity Partners has confirmed it will procure the founder's remaining stake in The Team, completing the private investment firm's takeover of the agency formerly known as Wasserman. The former chairman and CEO confirmed yesterday (28 July) that he will sell his remaining stake in The Team, which rebranded in March, to Providence. The investment firm has held a majority stake in the agency since 2022, and also has stakes in Superstruct, TAIT, Populous, ATG Entertainment, d&b audiotechnik, and Rock-It Cargo. Providence said it beat multiple rounds of bids from prospective investors, which reportedly included United Talent Agency and its backer EQT, Excel Sports Management, Primera, and Partners Group. With the sale, Wasserman says: "The truest measure of anything you build is whether it can thrive beyond you - and that was always my goal when I founded what was then called the Wasserman Media Group 24 years ago. What began as a small agency with big ambitions is today a global leader. "The Team is powered by extraordinary people and trusted by the world's greatest talent, brands, and properties. I leave with pride in what we created together, gratitude for those who made it possible, and confidence in what comes next. Sports, music, and entertainment are the languages the whole world speaks, and The Team's future is bright," he concluded. The name change followed Wasserman's February announcement that he would sell his namesake music and sports agency after reports emerged that he had appeared in the Epstein files, leading to a stream of artists - including Chappell Roan, Laufey, Odesza, Weyes Blood, and Gigi Perez - to cut ties with the company. Company president Mike Watts will be named CEO of The Team upon the transaction's closure, which is expected to be in the second half of this year. He has been an integral member of the leadership since The Team was founded in 2002. Earlier this year, The Team's leadership was strengthened with the elevation of Kevin Shivers to co-president of the music group, to work alongside music group president Lee Anderson to oversee the group's strategy, operations, and growth across the global live music business. As The Team's core investor, Providence says it will provide capital to expand The Team's capabilities across sports, music, and entertainment verticals. The Team provides representation and marketing services to talent, brands, and properties across 28 countries and more than 70 cities worldwide. "We're incredibly excited to further strengthen our partnership with The Team," said Davis Noell, senior managing director, co-head of North America at Providence. "The robust interest in the Company throughout this process only reinforced our belief in the business and enthusiasm for its next phase of growth. Our additional investment also reflects our conviction in the long-term growth in demand for in-person experiences across sports, music, and entertainment and the brands, talent, and partnerships that bring those moments to life." Financial terms were not disclosed. Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ's free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Casey Wasserman bids a somber farewell to 'The Team' as acquisition paperwork is finalized. Casey Wasserman bids a somber farewell to 'The Team' as acquisition paperwork is finalized ashley king july 28, 2026. Providence Equity will gain full ownership of The Team, formerly Wasserman, as Casey Wasserman sells his ownership stake. Casey Wasserman confirmed on Tuesday that he had sold his stake in The Team (the talent agency that officially changed its name from Wasserman earlier this year) to Providence Equity. The deal is due to close in the second half of the year, subject to customary closing conditions. The financial details were not disclosed, but analysts had previously estimated a valuation of $3.4 billion. Mike Watts, the veteran executive who stepped into an interim CEO role in February, will be named CEO. "The truest measure of anything you build is whether it can thrive beyond you - and that was always my goal when I founded what was then called the Wasserman Media Group 24 years ago," said Wasserman. "What began as a small agency with big ambitions is today a global leader. The Team is powered by extraordinary people and trusted by the world's greatest talents, brands, and properties. I leave with pride in what we created together, gratitude for those who made it possible, and confidence in what comes next. Sports, music, and entertainment are the languages the whole world speaks, and The Team's future is bright." It's an ending to a chapter that began in February, after Casey Wasserman stepped down and announced his intention to sell the company. The move followed immense backlash over his connection to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, also a convicted sex trafficker. The Team said it saw multiple rounds of bids from prospective buyers, including United Talent Agency and Patrick Whitesell's WIN. Providence first invested in the company in 2022 and already owns approximately 60% of the agency. "We're incredibly excited to further strengthen our partnership with The Team," said Providence's North America co-head and Senior Managing Director Davis Noell. "The robust interest in the company throughout this process only reinforced our belief in the business and enthusiasm for its next phase of growth. Our additional investment also reflects our conviction in the long-term growth in demand for in-person experiences across sports, music, and entertainment and the brands, talent, and partnerships that bring those moments to life." The firm's buyout will see Providence continue to support "organic growth and strategic M&A opportunities," providing the capital necessary to help The Team expand across its existing realms.
Providence Equity Partners announces additional investment in THE - TEAM to support acquisition of founder's ownership interest. Jul 28, 2026, 19:00 ET Michael Watts to be Elevated to Chief Executive Officer Announcement Marks Successful Completion of Highly Competitive Sale Process and Reflects Continued Conviction in the Business, its Leadership Team, and its Long-term Growth Prospects NEW YORK, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. ("Providence"), a leading middle-market private equity firm with deep sector expertise in media, communications, and education, and THE - TEAM (the "Company"), a leading global sports, music, and entertainment company, today announced an additional investment by Providence in the Company. The investment is designed to facilitate and provide capital for a transaction through which THE - TEAM will acquire founder Casey Wasserman's remaining ownership interest in the Company (the "Transaction"). Today's announcement marks the successful completion of a comprehensive sale process in which multiple rounds of bids were received from prospective buyers and investors. Through that process, Providence further strengthened its conviction in the THE - TEAM's strategy, leadership, and long-term growth prospects and elected to deepen its investment in the business. Providence first invested in THE - TEAM in 2022 and has since partnered with the management team to drive significant organic and inorganic growth, and this outcome underscores Providence's understanding of the Company's differentiated position in the marketplace, its culture, and the strength of its client relationships. Wasserman, who founded the then-eponymous agency in 2002 and led its growth into a global marketing and talent representation business for over two decades, announced his decision to sell earlier this year. Michael Watts, who has served as President since 2014 and assumed day-to-day control of the Company in February, will be elevated to Chief Executive Officer of THE - TEAM, effective upon Transaction close. Mr. Watts has been an integral member of the Company's leadership since its founding in 2002 and brings deep knowledge of the business and the Company's strategy to the role. "We're incredibly excited to further strengthen our partnership with THE - TEAM," said Davis Noell, Senior Managing Director, Co-Head of North America at Providence. "The robust interest in the Company throughout this process only reinforced our belief in the business and enthusiasm for its next phase of growth. Our additional investment also reflects our conviction in the long-term growth in demand for in-person experiences across sports, music, and entertainment and the brands, talent, and partnerships that bring those moments to life." "The truest measure of anything you build is whether it can thrive beyond you - and that was always my goal when I founded what was then called the Wasserman Media Group 24 years ago," said Mr. Wasserman. "What began as a small agency with big ambitions is today a global leader. THE - TEAM is powered by extraordinary people and trusted by the world's greatest talent, brands, and properties. I leave with pride in what we created together, gratitude for those who made it possible, and confidence in what comes next. Sports, music, and entertainment are the languages the whole world speaks, and THE - TEAM's future is bright." As the Company's majority investor, Providence will continue to support organic growth and strategic M&A, providing the capital and partnership needed to expand THE - TEAM's capabilities across sports, music, and entertainment, supporting the extraordinary talent, brands, and properties the Company is proud to represent. The Transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed. Advisors J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Providence. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as Providence's legal counsel. Moelis & Company LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to THE - TEAM. BDT & MSD Partners is serving as financial advisor to Casey Wasserman. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to Casey Wasserman and THE - TEAM. About Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. is a leading middle-market private equity firm with deep sector expertise in media, communications and education focused on North America and Europe. Providence looks to invest in businesses that are benefiting from the long-term growth trends around experiences, learning, and connectivity by partnering with exceptional management teams to build enduring, scaled companies. Founded in 1989 in Providence, Rhode Island, the firm has invested over $40 billion across more than 180 portfolio companies with a transatlantic investment team based primarily in London, New York, and Boston. Through disciplined portfolio construction, prudent risk management, and a collaborative culture, the firm seeks to deliver strong results across market cycles. To learn more, please visit www.provequity.com. About THE - TEAM THE - TEAM is proud to provide representation and marketing services to talent, brands and properties across 28 countries and more than 70 cities worldwide. Shaped by our belief in the unifying power of sports, music and entertainment, THE - TEAM leads with intelligence, ideas and influence. For more information, please visit the.team. SOURCE Providence Equity Partners L.L.C.