Macro, the production company founded by former WME partner Charles D. King, is adding managing talent to its list of responsibilities.
Having focused on producing content centered on people of color, and becoming somewhat of a haven for young black Hollywood, Macro is now launching a management vertical to represent filmmakers, actors, writers and multi-hyphenates.
The new division will be led by Gaby Mena and Jelani Johnson, who joined Macro from CAA in December. Both Mena and Johnson will serve as partners.
“Macro was founded with a mission to uplift communities and empower the voice of authentic and multi-dimensional storytellers from the global new majority,” King said in a statement. “The launch of Macro Management with this incredible team of experienced, entrepreneurial artists’ advocates like Gaby and Jelani expands that mission to further support and amplify the next generation of artists and cultural leaders. I couldn’t be more thrilled about this new, exciting vertical for our company and our business.”
Mena joins Macro from Paradigm where he was an agent in the motion picture literary and talent department. He brings his international expertise, relationships and client base to the operation. Clients joining him include Ciro Guerra and Christina Gallego, who are currently in pre-production on “Cortes and Montezuma” for Amazon and Amblin TV; Issa Lopez, the director of the acclaimed film “Tigers Are Not Afraid,” the multi-faceted Herizen Guardiola from “Dare Me” and Samuel Bazawule, director of Netflix and ARRAY’s “The Burial of Kojo.”
Johnson began his career as an intern at CAA, and later transitioned into talent management at Generate before going on to be the co-founding partner of The Mission Entertainment, a management and production company focused on diverse content creators. He returned to CAA as an agent in 2015.
In addition to his new role at Macro, Johnson will continue in his dual role as executive vice president of content strategy for Macro.
“I have admired the Macro mission from afar since their debut and the opportunity to build this division alongside Charles, Jelani and the team at Macro was too powerful to pass up,” Mena said in a statement. “It is the natural evolution in continuing the mission of empowering a generation of voices that are not only bringing fresh perspectives but also unique histories that translate into much needed cultural shifts.”