EXCLUSIVE: Following the rapid unraveling of KMR over the last few weeks, veteran talent agents Alicia Ruskin and Jamie Hernandez have officially opened True Artists Agency representing performers of all ages for on-camera commercials.
Deadline first told you that the duo were planning to throw open the door to their new agency following KMR grappling with “talent payment breakdown” which led to the firm suspending its franchise agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
Hernandez and Ruskin’s roster includes clients who were repped by one or both of the agents for decades.
Hernandez began her career at Special Artists and joined Kazarian/Spencer & Associates in 2011, becoming Head of Adult Commercials in 2020.
Ruskin started at what was then Joseph, Hedlfond & Rix as a receptionist, was promoted to agent 18 months later under KSA and rose to become a name partner with Cindy Kazarian in 2008.
“We are excited to take our years of experience and build an agency with purpose, integrity, and an aligned vision for the future,” said the partners.
They added, “Repairing trust in the wake of our former agency’s financial irregularities is job number one. Going out on our own is a real leap of faith for everyone involved, thankfully supported by our industry colleagues and above all the tremendous talent we are fortunate to represent.”
KMR talent agency’s subtraction from SAG-AFTRA left agents blindsided. In recent weeks, several KMR checks bounced.
Among the notable departures from KMR recently were former SVP and head of the agency’s NYC office Jed Abrahams who left for Los Angeles-based management and production company The Rosenzweig Group (aka The Rose Group) as a talent manager. KMR’s Valerie Chiovetti took her clients to Stewart Talent. Former KMR senior agents, Doug Kesten and Tracey Goldblum, joined Los Angeles-based agency Brady Brannon & Rich, to open an NYC office focused on commercial representation.