Whether you love or despise him, hardly anyone can contest that Simon Cowell has made a tremendous impact in the entertainment industry. Now, he will continue to do so while partnering up with the YMU Group for representation in the United Kingdom. Per Celebrity Access, the talent management group announced on Monday, July 25, that the “global creative visionary” has joined their entertainment division and will be managed by Chris Hughes, the Executive Director of YMU.
Cowell is the founder of the British entertainment firm Syco Entertainment. He and YMU will work together on all arms of the media company, including partnerships, books, music projects, and television formats. This news comes just six months after Cowell scaled back his responsibilities with Syco to spend time with his family. He has been with his fiancée Laura Silverman since 2013, and the pair has a seven-year-old son.
Hello Magazine reports that YMU called Cowell’s signing a “notable and important” event for the company. They lauded the entrepreneur as an authority who “significantly changed the entertainment landscape.” Simon Cowell is the creator of the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent franchises. After these shows gained tremendous popularity, he launched their American iterations: America’s Got Talent and the cultural phenomenon American Idol.
YMU Group CEO Mary Bekhait stated she was “thrilled” that Cowell had signed with the talent agency and looked forward to taking his already-formidable success to new levels. She added that YMU had spent years investing in its team of media specialists to attract high-profile clients like Simon Cowell. The sentiment appears to be mutual as Cowell deemed YMU a “fantastic team” that he was excited to work with.
The YMU Group specializes in art, music, entertainment, sports, and business management. It represents other prolific names such as Davina McCall, Amanda Holden, Steve Aoki, and the legendary Rolling Stones. The agency hopes that adding Simon Cowell to this impressive clientele will further demonstrate the world-class expertise and resources that it has to offer.
Cowell continues to be represented by WME in the rest of the world, including the United States.