People 1/30

CEO and co-founder Dan Strone resigned three weeks ago and officially leaves the agency on February 7. “I thought it was time for a change,” Strone told PL. “I want to get back to representation—and away from administration—and do what I do best, which is working with celebrity talent.” Strone can be reached at dastrone@gmail.com or 917-685-0000. His clients are re-assigned to other agents at Trident, chair Robert Gottlieb said.

Foreign rights director Ana Ban departed shortly after Strone. Sam Birmingham will join as international rights director on February 3. Birmingham was previously at Sebes & Bisseling and WME.

Office manager/human resources head Milana Amirgulova also departs the agency today. Gottlieb says she is leaving the industry, and a new head of HR “has been hired.”

Jim Murphy, the author of bestselling self-help book Inner Excellence, has signed with UTA for representation. Murphy’s self-published edition, which he released in 2020 (after initial publication by McGraw-Hill in 2009), went viral after cameras caught Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown reading it during an NFL playoff game. The book rocketed from obscurity to sell over 130,000 copies in the last sale two weeks. The book is reportedly on submission to publishers now.

Denise Oswald is promoted to vp, editor-in-chief.

Cynthia Lasky has been promoted to evp, group sales director.

Cheryl Segura has joined as senior acquisitions editor. She was previously editor at Wiley.

Patricia Nelson has joined as senior agent. She was formerly with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and takes her client list with her.

The ABA Nominating Committee recommended Village Books owner Paul Hanson as a candidate for election to the board.

Current board members Brien Lopez (Children’s Book World), Cynthia Compton (4 Kids Books & Toys and MacArthur Books), and Raquel Roque (Books & Books) are running for reelection.