Ander Nickell, who formerly served as head of global partnerships at video game publisher Activision, has joined UTA as an esports brand partnerships exec.
In this role, Nickell will be focused on building brand partnerships for UTA’s roster of roughly 100 esports athletes and gaming creators, including NickMercs, Pokimane, Scump, Offline TV, Disguised Toast, Aphromoo, Valkyrae, Grandmaster Hikaru, Symfuhny, and gaming org FaZe Clan. (The agency launched its esports division in 2018).
At Activision, Nickell oversaw brand partnerships for Call of Duty, Warzone, Call of Duty Mobile, Tony Hawk’s, and Crash Bandicoot, securing multi-year pacts with Pepsi, Sony, Comcast, Kellogg’s, Nvidia, and Papa John’s. He also oversaw first-of-their-kind, in-game crossover events last year with the films Saw and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
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Nickell will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to UTA’s head of esports, Damon Lau.
“I’ve watched UTA build an unmatched roster of incredibly talented creators, and a team of the industry’s top esports agents and executives,” Nickell said in a statement. “It’s clear to me that we have an unprecedented opportunity to partner brands with our clients, who represent the next generation of entertainment stars, in new and imaginative ways.”
