EXCLUSIVE: Talent Agency The Venture Management Signs China Partnership With Celebrity Stylist
- Thai stars are gaining popularity in China, leading to a strategic partnership between The Venture Management talent agency and Beijing-based celebrity stylist Eric Gao.
VENTURING IN CHINA:If the crowds greeting their every appearance is anything to go by, the power of Thai stars remains undimmed globally.
With fervent fan bases in China that are known for organizing events, taking out billboard ads and even mass-buying streaming subscriptions to support their idols, it's an opportunity that 18-month-old talent agency The Venture Management is keen to tap into.
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The company has revealed it is expanding to China through a strategic partnership with Beijing-based celebrity stylist Eric Gao.
"China's demand for Thai celebrities is skyrocketing, and brands need a trusted partner to navigate these high-value deals," said the agency's founder Nichapat Suphap. "With Eric's deep industry connections and expertise, we are ensuring that Chinese brands get direct, trusted access to the biggest Thai stars."
As its first move in the country, the new venture under the banner of EricGao Studio said it would exclusively represent Thai actress Faye Peraya Malisorn, whose breakout role was in the2024 "girl love" miniseries "Blank."
Faye Malisorn
Gao counts among his clients Fan Bingbing, Chinese actress and singer Guan Xiaotong, who is a global brand ambassador for Paris jeweler Fred; Thai actress Freen Sarocha, who was appointed Valentino's first female brand ambassador from Thailand in 2024, and Gucci brand ambassador and friend of Bulgari Davika Hoorne. He also founded celebrity-driven fashion magazine "The First Street Snap" in 2017 on Weibo.
"Nichapat and I work closely together on many projects so this was a natural transition. We understand the marketing landscapes in both Thailand and China, and how to tailor impactful synergies that are also culturally relevant," Gao told WWD.
"With Faye Malisorn, we are setting a new benchmark for Thai celebrity success in China," he claimed. "This expansion ensures that all Chinese brands — whether looking for Faye or any other Thai star — have a trusted, professional partner to execute high-impact collaborations."
In addition to brokering celebrity collaborations and offering strategic influencer marketing, Gao and Suphap will be organizing fan meetings and events between Thai talent and their Chinese fan base as well as livestreaming commerce opportunities.
Launched in 2023, the talent agency counts the likes of Davika Hoorne and Dior ambassadors Phakphum "Mile" Romsaithong and Nattawin "Apo" Wattanagitiphat on its 12-strong main roster.
Among Suphap's early moves was bringing her clients to the Cannes Film Festival and helping to secure deals with prominent European houses such as Bulgari and Piaget. The Venture's Southeast Asian arm opened in August 2024.
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