Updated, 11:07 PT
Global sports and entertainment agency Octagon has added talent agent Andy Cohen and longtime attorney, executive and producer David G. Stanley to its entertainment division, run by former William Morris Endeavor agent John Ferriter.
Cohen, who joins the company from Gersh, will be vice president of the division while Stanley (pictured left) will lead its new production business.
Both men will report to Ferriter, Octagon Entertainment’s managing director.
Also read: Octagon Entertainment Picks Up WME Castoff John Ferriter
Stanley’s background includes stints at NBC, MGM/UA and Warner Bros., as well as the formation and development of Stone Stanley Entertainment.
A union of Stanley and Scott A. Stone, the production company oversaw shows like “Loveline,” “The Man Show,” “Legends of the Hidden Temple” and “The Mole.”
Ferriter said that he gained much of his knowledge about production from Stanley back when he was at William Morris. The two have continued to work together, and Ferriter wanted to bring Stanley abooard because he grew weary of developing ideas and then always having to hire an outside production company.
Though many of those experiences were positive ones, Ferriter hopes Stanley can initiate some internally generated content.
"As we started to sell more and more through more collaborations, we realized we were just giving so much stuff away," Ferriter told TheWrap.
Moreover, given the types of clients Octagon represents, there was further need for an experienced in-house producer.
"It's almost impossible to sell anything without any kind of tape," Ferriter said. "Having David come in with his contacts and resources […] he can shoot stills and get additional programming out there."
As for Cohen, Ferriter said he had admired his new colleague for years, especially given that they had both represented many of the same clients, from Chelsea Handler to Kathy Griffin.
It remains unclear which of Cohen's current clients will make the switch — typically a major factor in this kind of hire — but Ferriter called that immatierial.
"Anyone who comes along with him is a bonus," he said. "It's about what we can do by collaborating. It's hard to find someone who has a decade of agenting experience and 25 years of good work experience."
Octagon, part of the Interpublic Group, is one of the largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agencies.
Under Ferriter, the agency's entertainment division has focused on packaging TV entertainment projects as well as leveraging its stable of athletes that includes the likes of NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and basketball star Stephen Curry.
It represents CNN's Piers Morgan and Erin Burnett, Dr. Drew Pinsky and Donny Osmond, among others.