M88, a talent management firm established in 2020 to prioritize clients from the global majority, is broadening its horizons by amalgamating with its affiliate, UNCMMN, a company founded in 2019 with a focus on representing historically underrepresented talent in new media. Both M88 and UNCMMN have been launched with significant backing from Macro, a media company initiated by Charles D. King in 2015 to amplify multicultural narratives, which will continue to hold a majority stake in M88 post-merger.
The integration of UNCMMN into M88 signifies an expansion of M88’s talent representation to encompass a wider range of media, including both traditional and digital platforms. The merger positions M88 to provide an enhanced suite of opportunities in digital and experiential media for its talent roster, which will now include the influence of UNCMMN co-founder Stephanie Piza. Piza, taking on the role of head of emerging and interactive media at M88, will be at the forefront of these new initiatives.
M88’s president and co-founder Phillip Sun, who will remain at the helm of the unified entity, expressed his enthusiasm about the merger: “This is an exciting moment for M88 as we further diversify our offerings in the creative and digital space. By welcoming Stephanie and the UNCMMN team, M88 is poised to offer a holistic approach to contemporary representation that not only enhances our clients’ careers but also continues to advance the cultural narrative.”
Stephanie Piza, a former CAA executive, brings to M88 a client list that includes notable figures such as Kendrick Sampson, JC Caylen, and Olly Sholotan. “Phillip and I share a deep commitment to representation, and we understood the transformative potential of our partnership from the start,” Piza remarked. “At this critical juncture for our industry, I am excited to drive the company’s progress in new media and cutting-edge technology to support our visionary clients in shaping New Hollywood. I eagerly anticipate working with my colleagues at M88 to bolster our collective mission to instigate substantial change and continue to redefine the paradigm of modern talent management.”
M88, under the leadership of partners including Oronde Garrett and Gaby Mena, represents an impressive list of clients from the global majority, such as Michael B. Jordan, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Gemma Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Kelly Marie Tran, and directors like Ryan Coogler, Blitz Bazawule, Issa Lopez, and Carlos Lopez Estrada.
