EXCLUSIVE: Following 15 years as a talent agent at Paradigm, Jeff Kolodny is moving over to the management side, after joining Cognition, the boutique talent management company founded by Brian DePersia.
Bringing extensive experience representing some of the industry’s most respected actors, Kolodny will work alongside DePersia and the Cognition team across film, television, theatre, and brand endorsements. This won’t be his first stint as a manager.
Kolodny joined Paradigm in 2011, following three years in management at Luber Roklin Entertainment. Prior to that, he spent 17 years at agency William Morris, where he was a VP in the talent department.
“I’ve known Jeff since I was an assistant at the William Morris Agency. He has been a mentor, colleague, and trusted friend for over two decades — someone I’ve turned to for counsel more times than I can count,” DePersia told Deadline. “Jeff’s expertise, integrity, and taste are a perfect match for what we’ve built at Cognition, and I couldn’t be more excited to be working alongside him again.”
A longtime agent at WME and its predecessor William Morris, DePersia left to launch Cognition in 2022, as we were first to report. The company’s current roster includes two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali; Emmy winner Tobias Menzies; Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG nominee Caitríona Balfe; BAFTA nominee Jodie Whittaker; and Emmy nominee Jimmi Simpson, among others.
