Action sports agency Evolution Management + Marketing has hired its first new agent in nine years as a spate of consolidation ripples across the industry.
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RUNKE
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Evolution lured Ryan Runke away from Prime Sports & Entertainment and will add all 16 of his clients to its roster, including snowboarders Ben and Gabe Ferguson and surfers Koa Smith and Zeke Lau.
Evolution now represents more than 40 athletes, an abrupt expansion after nearly a decade of stability. SFX veterans Brian Samuels and Josh Schwartz founded the agency in 2006, adding Tom Yaps a year later.
“We’re doing very well and are ready to grow at this point,” said Yaps, who was the most junior member of the team until Runke’s addition.
Runke joins Evolution after two and a half years as an agent at Prime. Before that, he spent more than 15 years working for action brands, most recently Red Bull.
Runke began considering his options late last year and agreed to join Evolution at the Dew Tour’s last stop in Breckenridge, Colo., in December. He credited their small-shop, inclusive approach.
“It wasn’t work for hire,” Runke said. “They were investing in me and want to grow a business together.”
Yaps, the agency’s managing director of action, represents freeskiers Tanner Hall, Tom Wallisch and Maddie Bowman, along with snowboarders Kaitlyn Farrington and Lindsey Jacobellis, among others.
January has been a lively month in action sports representation. News of Runke’s jump to Evolution comes shortly after Wasserman Media Group acquired action agency The Sports Syndicate, and Mosaic agent Greg Fernandez became Octagon’s head of surf.
The deals are distinct, but Runke said there could be a common thread, including snow sports’ weather-related troubles.
“I think it’s probably somewhat of a coincidence,” he said. “But I think the thing right now is, the economy is not what it used to be in our space, and I think banding together can create some more resources. Every person has relationships and contacts, and if you band them together, you grow that database.”
