Former 42 West Trio Take Huge Clients, Launch Firm The Lede Company

Powerhouse PR trio Amanda Silverman, Meredith O’Sullivan Wasson and Sarah Levinson Rothman have a new name for their company — and a staggering client list for the venture, called The Lede Company.

The agency will offer personal and brand representation alike. Talent clients coming over include:

Rihanna, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Queen Latifah, Charlize Theron, Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Pharrell and Amy Schumer, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Mary J Blige, Halle Berry, Riley Keough, Shakira, Cara Delevingne, David Spade, Chelsea Handler, Whitney Cummings, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jennifer Connelly, Gabrielle Union and Penelope Cruz.

Also Read: Former Publicists for ID, 42West Launch Narrative Public Relations

Brands include Illumination Entertainment, agency and development machine Anonymous Content, theSkimm, Makeready, Hello Sunshine and PepsiCo.

All three executives share the title of Co-CEO. Silverman and Levinson Rothman will head up the New York office, while O’Sullivan Wasson will remain in Los Angeles.

“The three of us have been privileged to work closely together for the last decade, and during that time, we have found that each of our individual styles and specialties in the talent and corporate worlds complement each other,” they said in a statement.

“As the entertainment, media and branding worlds continue to grow and shift, we are confident that our combined skills and experience have readied us to implement strategies that move along with it, and we can’t wait to see where this new journey takes us,” they continued.

Also Read: Uber Executive Bozoma Saint John Named Chief Marketing Officer at Endeavor

They also paid tribute to their former leaders at 42West: Leslee Dart, Amanda Lundberg and Allan Mayer.

“Our time at 42West was invaluable, and we are so grateful to Leslee, Amanda and Allan for their mentorship, wisdom, for building a company that truly felt like a family, and for their continued friendship as we begin this exciting new phase,” the statement read.

News of their departures hit last week. At the time, Dart, Lundberg and Mayer said “though we hate to see them leave us, we understand the entrepreneurial urge and we wish them the best of luck in their new enterprise.”

The 13 Tackiest Cannes PR Stunts, From Blake Lively's Sharks to Sacha Baron Cohen's Mankini (Photos)

From a faux terrorist attack to sharks in the French Riviera, promoters often miss the mark with their gaudy Cannes PR stunts.
Faux “Terror Raid” to Promote Oraxy
Guests at Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc got a surprise visit by men outfitted in militia-themed gear last year, who approached the hotel by boat. It was a publicity stunt for the Paris-based Oraxy, which describes itself as “the world’s first private global marketplace reserved exclusively for UHNWI,” or Ultra High Net Worth Individuals.
Sacha Baron Cohen Wears Green Mankini
In 2006, Sacha Baron Cohen sported a bright green male thong known as the “mankini” to promote “Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.”
Twitter
Sacha Baron Cohen Brings a Camel
In 2012, “The Dictator” actor turned up with two model bodyguards and a camel. He even managed to fall off the camel, which bore a license plate with “Wadiya 1” on it – a reference to the fictional North African Republic of Wadiya, where “The Dictator” was set.
YouTube
T.J. Miller Parachutes in to Debut "Emoji Movie" Trailer
To promote Sony’s “The Emoji Movie,” T.J. Miller parasailed into Cannes before unveiling a trailer for the film, in which he voices Gene, the Meh emoji. Emojis don't feel very Cannes.
Getty Images
"The Shallows" Brings in Fake Sharks
To promote Blake Lively's nautical horror film, Screen Gems planted fake sharks in the French Riviera.

Getty Images
Faux Snow for "A Christmas Carol"
Disney tapped Jim Carrey for a new version of “A Christmas Carol” in 2009 — and decided to bring the holiday spirit to Cannes by covering the Croisette with snow. Not the best example of reading the room or, in this case, the luxurious French beach town in the middle of May. Shout out to Robin Wright and Colin Firth in the background for looking horrified at the faux snowball fight.
Getty Images
Jerry Seinfeld Flies In to Promote "Bee Movie"
In 2007, Jerry Seinfeld took Cannes by air to promote his big animated push for Disney, for which he served as writer and star and recruited pals like Chris Rock. His giant bee costume might have been worse than his notorious “Seinfeld” puffy shirt.
Getty Images
Angelina Jolie, Will Smith Ride Inflatable Shark
Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Jack Black rode a 14-foot inflatable shark to promote "Shark Tale" in 2004.
Getty Images
"Trolls" Wigs
Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake promoted "Trolls" in 2016 with an array of women wearing bright-colored outfits and wigs reminiscent of the costumes in the movie. Also, they're all in gowns -- a play on Cannes fashion?
Getty Images
Gaspar Noe’s Graphic Makeout Posters to Promote “Love”
Gaspar Noe at first shocked -- and then satisfied -- critics with his depiction of sex on film. He was praised for depicting the joyous and fervent act and staying mostly out of the realm of straight-up pornography. Promoting the film, however, was a different story. Producers wallpapered Cannes in posters of a saliva-covered triple kiss and an NSFW image of a penis and a woman's breast after climax.
Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme Hold Impromptu Stage Fight
Both "Universal Soldier" actors held a stage fight on the steps of a famed staircase in 1992. Many believed it was real, but Lundgren told The Hollywood Reporter that it was planned.
TriStar
Dead pigeons for "24 Hour Party People"
In 2002, actors impersonating the band Happy Mondays mimicked a scene of the movie by throwing fake dead pigeons from the beach onto unsuspecting victims, who believed thousands of dead birds were falling from the sky, the BBC reported.
Film4
Naked Bike Rides
Felix van Groeningen, the filmmaker behind “The Misfortunates,” decided to recreate a scene from his film where a dysfunctional family rides bikes in the nude. Just hours before a press conference, the director and his team disrobed and flew down the Croisette in the buff. A staffer on a motorcycle followed with their underwear, in case French police got a gander at them.
Getty Images