CAA Adds Two Execs To Marketing & Brand Partnerships Divisions   

CAA has announced two hires as the agency continues expanding its marketing and brand partnerships divisions. Live events marketing executive Adrian Ayala and business development and brand partnerships executive Ben de Ayora are both based in Los Angeles. 

Adrian Ayala has been added to Global Touring’s Marketing team and joins CAA from CHIVALR, an independent operator of music venues in Southern California. During his time at the company Ayala led marketing strategy for some of Los Angeles iconic venues such as Catch One, El Cid, and Don Quixote. He has more than 10 years of experience working on campaigns across music and culture, including leading marketing and partnerships at HIFI Labs, in which he worked on web3 music initiatives with artists like Interpol, David Lynch, and RAC.

His resume also includes spearheading promotions for Live Nation’s North American tours including Bon Jovi, Ariana Grande, and Coldplay and negotiating brand partnerships with Tinder, 1-800-Flowers.com, & Urban Outfitters, as well as experiencing on the label side with leading digital marketing at Warner Records for artists including Bebe Rexha and Kylie Minogue. 

Ben de Ayora has joined Global Touring’s Brand Partnerships team at CAA and will focus on the agency’s electronic and dance artists. Most recently at AEG, de Ayora has more than a decade of experience working in music, entertainment, and technology, while connecting “global brands with cultural moments and audiences.” Last year he founded BRAND/PRIX, a boutique brand partnerships collective that has “collaborated with more than 30 of the most influential music venues and festivals across the U.S.” He’s also worked at Discogs, DoStuff Media, and Viacom. 

“We’re thrilled to have Adrian and Ben join our team,” CAA Co-Head of Global Touring Rick Roskin said in a statement. “Their addition signals our ongoing investment in two key areas of our business, bringing proven expertise in building authentic partnerships and high-impact marketing strategies that will shape meaningful collaborations and opportunities for our clients.”

Today’s announcement from CAA notes that CAA was the first agency to establish a dedicated Marketing Department within its Touring division, as well as being the first to create a dedicated brand partnerships group inside its Touring division. CAA’s brand partnerships group has made 360 deals in the past 12 months, earning more than $85 million in revenue for clients thanks to artist-brand partnerships including Lady Gaga x Mastercard, Post Malone x T-Mobile, Tate McRae x Neutrogena, Charli xcx x Aperol, and Kelsea Ballerini x SoFi, among others.