Executive Search

Joe Becher is the Global Managing Partner and Founder of CAA Executive Search. Based in New York, he has led the growth of the business and developed a world’s leading sports and entertainment search business, having worked with more than 300 clients across five continents. Becher’s client base includes sports leagues, properties, franchises, media companies, OTT businesses, video game publishers, esports leagues and franchises, PE/VC firms, investors, agencies, health and fitness companies, betting operators, fashion businesses and music labels.

Prior to joining CAA, Becher was a partner and a founding member of Odgers Berndtson’s international sports practice, based out of the London office. He was responsible for building the practice globally and worked across searches in every territory, with a special focus on North America, Europe and Asia.  

His emphasis was on C-level searches across all functions for sports teams, leagues, federations, broadcasters and agencies. He led on the formation of the football operations function for a number of clubs, as well as hiring managers/head coaches for several Championship, Premier League and Champions League football clubs.

Becher was also at the forefront of the sports practice's advisory business, working with private equity groups and investors on human capital due diligence projects.

Asher Simons co-founded CAA Executive Search in 2016 and serves as the Head of International.  

Simons’ client base includes sports leagues and franchises, major rights holders, technology companies, esports leagues and franchises, gaming publishers, live entertainment promoters, national governing bodies, sports betting companies, traditional and new media businesses, agencies, global brands, private equity firms, VC funds and high net worth individual investors.

Simons has cross-functional expertise from a placement standpoint and focuses on board-level, C-level and senior executive hiring. He also has a successful track record of working with clients on deeper, more strategic human capital partnerships, including providing advisory services across diversity and inclusion best practices, governance and corporate structuring, compensation and reward schemes, succession planning, and human capital due diligence/pre- and post-acquisition reviews.

Simons has spent his whole career in the world of sports, media and entertainment. He was previously Head of the North American sports practice for a Top 5 major global executive search firm. Simons has developed a vast network of senior leaders globally and is seen by these executives as a trusted confidant and advisor. He was a graduate of Newcastle University in the UK and currently splits his time between New York and London.

Dany Berghoff is a partner in the Executive Search division at CAA. Berghoff most recently served as Head of the Global Sport and Entertainment Leadership practice at global search firm RSR Partners. His executive search experience includes C-suite and senior management executive searches for governing bodies, leagues, teams, esports properties, betting and gaming companies, media companies and agencies.  Berghoff also helps clients design, structure and build peak performance organizational structures.

Prior to RSR Partners, Berghoff worked as broadcasting agent for athletes and sportscasters, and subsequently worked for a boutique agency where he helped monetize commercial rights for organizations including the International Olympic Committee, United States Olympic Committee and Miami Dolphins. He also provided corporate advisory services in negotiating global sport sponsorship rights for brands including Johnson & Johnson and Ernst & Young.

Based in London, managing global mandates, Caz Lacey heads-up CAA Executive Search’s global gaming efforts. She has extensive experience working on senior executive and non-executive director positions for international gaming businesses. Her focus is on developing networks specifically within the esports and video gaming industries. Lacey is an Ambassador for Women in Games (WIGJ) and regularly speaks at and moderates games industry panels.

Lacey formerly led the video gaming practice at Odgers Berndtson’s for five years, working with major games publishers, developers, technology providers as well as esports tournament organizers and teams. Her clients included Sony PlayStation, Electronic Arts, ESL and Bethesda.

Previously, Lacey worked as a consultant for a boutique executive search firm in London specializing in entertainment and leisure. She has in-depth knowledge of the research and selection process for blue chip clients globally.

She graduated from Durham University with a BA in Ancient History and Archaeology.

Graham Hutchison joined CAA Executive Search having previously co-founded the global sport and entertainment search practice at a boutique search firm headquartered in London. Hutchison grew the practice to work on some of the most high-profile assignments across teams, leagues, federations and private equity.  

Prior to forging a career in Executive Search, Hutchison spent five years as a professional footballer, playing for teams across the Premier League and EFL as well as competing at Youth International Level.

Hutchison has extensive experience in executive search and human capital consulting across both corporate and technical areas. He is based in London.

Andrew Mackereth joined CAA Executive Search in 2018. Based in London, he partners with clients across the entertainment industry and leads the global music division.  Mackereth has extensive executive search experience and previously worked in the global sports practice of a Top 5 international search firm.

Mackereth works with music labels, DSPs, media businesses, clubs, leagues and digital businesses to secure top senior talent in all major territories. He works across all C-suite functions with experience of both established and high-growth businesses. Operating globally, he has helped clients expand into new territories, hiring regional leadership teams across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

Mackereth studied Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University and recently raised more than £120,000 for charities by running 10 marathons in 10 days across Sierra Leone.

Eli Cherenfant began his professional career as a law clerk at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court in the state. Subsequently, Cherenfant joined a private law firm working across several areas of law. During this time, Cherenfant refined his legal advocacy skills while representing individuals within the underprivileged community relating to employment and civil rights issues.

Shortly thereafter, Cherenfant sought to combine his passion for sports and entertainment with his commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion. Based in Los Angeles, Cherenfant oversees a global team of associates and utilizes his negotiation skills and representation expertise to recruit top diverse talent across the world. As a result, more than half of CAA Executive Search’s placements have been diverse hires.

Cherenfant is a trusted advisor to Presidents and other C-Level executives across the entertainment, media and sports landscapes, with a successful track record advising organizations and placing C-level commercial leaders globally.

Cherenfant earned his BA at Northeastern University and his JD at Northeastern University School of Law.

Davis Goldstein joined the group in 2017 as one of the first hires and is now in an executive role with a particular focus on the digital, media, and technology practice. Notably, Goldstein has led the group’s efforts across the streaming and content space as well as the health/wellness vertical and has deep experience leading global talent focused initiatives. Goldstein has worked with companies at various stages, from start-up to Fortune 500 advising on large scale global organizational strategies and roadmaps. In addition, Goldstein leads global research for CAA Executive Search and helps manage a team of researchers focused on identifying and sourcing top talent across sports, media, and entertainment. Goldstein attended New York University where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management with a concentration in Organizational Management. Goldstein is based out of the New York office.

Andy Taylor joined CAA in 2018 to lead the EMEA Executive Search practice. With more than 20 years of expertise in executive search, he has worked with the world's leading sports teams and rights holders, betting and gaming operators, esports, media, technology, data and entertainment properties. Senior appointments across the C-suite have ranged from Chair, CEO, CCO, and CFO to specialist practitioners in senior director and leadership roles. Based in London, Taylor works internationally and has served clients and across EMEA, Asia, Australia and North America.

A graduate of UWE Bristol with BA (Hons) in Business Decision Analysis, he began his career with Walkers/PepsiCo in the UK, where he worked across a range of commercial roles.

Alex Cooke joined CAA Executive Search in 2019 and is based in the London office. Cooke has completed mandates across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East working in partnership with clients across football, motorsports, global broadcasters and wider sports and entertainment. Cooke leads delivery of all European football searches, working with a variety of ownership groups to secure talent in both commercial and technical areas.

Cooke trained as a chartered accountant prior to moving into executive search, where he began with a boutique firm placing finance executives across multiple industries.

Before a career in executive search, Cooke studied Sport and Exercise Science and completed a MSc in Sports Physiology at the University of Brighton.

Joe Aiken began his executive search and human capital advisory career at Heidrick & Struggles, where he was a member of the firm’s global CEO & board, financial services, and social impact Practices. He placed C-level executives and board members at bulge bracket banks, mega funds, associations and trade organizations, and Fortune 100 companies. Notably, he played a key role in building out the firm’s D&I services practice internally and externall

Aiken’s functional expertise spans marketing, finance, strategy, general management, and DEI. He is based in Los Angeles and joined CAA Executive Search to contribute to the group’s efforts at the intersection of music, finance, and technology. In that capacity, he plays a key role leading music industry search, advising major and independent labels, publishers, and DSPs while also contributing to searches across the sports and entertainment landscape for teams, leagues, and federations. Aiken also has expertise in diverse talent pipeline mapping/buildout and DEI cultural assessment.

Aiken earned his BA in Philosophy and Political Science with an interdisciplinary concentration in Writing & Rhetoric from Colgate University. While at Colgate, he was a member of the Konosioni Senior Honor Society.

Jordan Gertzman is an executive at CAA Executive Search, part of a dynamic team of researchers focused on identifying and sourcing top talent across sports, media and entertainment. Gertzman is a trusted advisor to sports teams/franchises, leagues, music publishers, betting operators, esports publishers and developers, international sports federations, startups, media agencies, and rightsholders, among others. His functional expertise spans business development, general management, finance, strategy, marketing and content development/programming. He leads many of the group’s searches in the Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Chief People Officer and President categories. He attended the University of Michigan where he graduated with a BA in Sport Management from the School of Kinesiology and a BBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Gertzman is based in the New York office.

Sarah Phillips joined CAA Executive Search in 2019 and is based in New York. Phillips is part of a dynamic group of researchers focused on identifying and securing top talent across sports, media, entertainment and technology.

Phillips services a diverse set of clients and candidates spanning sports teams/franchises, leagues, colleges, esports, international sports federations, betting and gaming, connected fitness, digital technology, startups, among others.

Phillips earned her BA from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration within the SC Johnson College of Business. Phillips was a four-year member and two-time captain of the Cornell women’s lacrosse team.