Global sports, music, and entertainment agency Wasserman has acquired BSE Media Group and hired BSE founder Oscar Morilla as Senior Vice President, Talent Marketing and Partnerships, EMEA, announced today by Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Talent Jason Ranne. BSE will rebrand as Wasserman effective immediately.
Morilla and his staff will join Wasserman’s sports talent division, where they will continue to represent their existing clients while also expand their talent sales, marketing, social media, and branding service offerings to all Wasserman agents and clients in EMEA. Morilla and his staff will continue to work in Madrid.
“From the beginning of conversations with Wasserman, we felt very aligned on our approach to talent management,” said Morilla. “For the BSE team, this acquisition is the result of a job well done over the years with talent, brands, and media. Commitment and service have been our hallmarks since the beginning of the company, and that will endure and expand by joining Wasserman. On a personal level, it is an important step to have closed the sale of BSE to a world-leading group such as Wasserman, and to be able to contribute my knowledge, enthusiasm, and work in the coming years, leading our talent marketing efforts in Spain and the EMEA markets.”
Morilla founded BSE in 2012 after experience in the video game industry, first at Vivendi Universal and then at EA Games, including working on projects and activations related to FIFA, NBA 2K, and other non-sports projects. This experience also included working with international sporting superstars in global football and basketball, and led to Morilla working personally with talent to manage their marketing endeavors.
This acquisition continues Wasserman’s efforts to expand their sport and service offerings in 2022, following the acquisition of leading baseball agency Jet Sports Management in July, the acquisition of Esportif and launch of ‘Wasserman Rugby’ in June, as well as the acquisition of Mullhaupt Management the same month that added a number of top women’s and men’s golfers to Wasserman’s golf division. Earlier this year, Wasserman Music acquired Paradigm’s U.K. live music representation business, expanding its global client roster and European footprint, and in January, leading sports media, broadcast, and consulting agency The Montag Group was acquired, immediately making Wasserman a major player in the sports media realm and bolstering the post-career services offering to all clients.
The team from KPMG Abogados that has advised Wasserman on the transaction was formed by Corporate/M&A partner Rafael Aguilar, together with Corporate/M&A senior manager Alejandro Blázquez. The Labour team from KPMG Abogados was formed by partner Francisco Fernandez and senior manager Ana Garriz.
