Jesse Uram Joins Ventureland as VP of Strategic Partnerships (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast who’s seen more documentaries than I can count on my fingers, I must say that Jesse Uram’s move to Ventureland is nothing short of a blockbuster deal! With his impressive resume at Westbrook Inc., where he played a key role in expanding their empire into new realms such as documentaries, video games, and audio, it seems the man can make even Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith look like amateurs.


Jesse Uram has taken up a new role at Ventureland, the innovative studio known for productions like “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and “Beckham.” He will serve as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, working primarily from the company’s Los Angeles office. In this position, he will collaborate closely with CEO Kerstin Emhoff and Managing Director John Battsek to foster and expand Ventureland’s connections within the financial, creative, and distribution industries.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to announce my joining the esteemed Ventureland team! With a rich background in the industry, extensive knowledge, and a solid reputation, I’m confident that I can contribute significantly to our continued exponential growth. My role will be instrumental in attracting top-tier partners and fostering relationships across all entertainment platforms. This award-winning team and I are excited about what the future holds!

“Jesse has been brought on board at Ventureland, and we’re thrilled about it! His expertise in strategic branding will be a tremendous asset, and I can’t wait to collaborate with him as we expand our collection of documentaries.”

Following a five-year stint at Westbrook Inc., the entertainment enterprise established by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Uram transitioned to Ventureland. At Westbrook, he climbed the ranks from Vice President of Business Development to Senior Vice President of Growth in 2021. In this position, Uram was instrumental in Westbrook’s growth into diverse sectors like documentaries, video games, and audio, and spearheaded strategic, long-term partnerships with entities such as AEG, Tencent, Amazon, and P&G. Remarkably, Uram orchestrated Westbrook’s expansion with Meta and played a crucial role in sealing a three-year deal for “Red Table Talk” with Facebook, which ultimately led to the creation of a companion podcast with iHeartMedia, as well as the production of VR originals.

Ventureland was established by Battsek, a multiple-award-winning film producer known for “Searching for Sugar Man,” alongside Ali Brown, Paul Hunter, and Emhoff. Their productions have garnered Emmys, BAFTA Awards, and even Oscar nominations. Some of their notable works include “Wham!”, “The Rescue”, and “The Deepest Breath.”

“As a film enthusiast, I’m excited to join forces with Kerstin Emhoff, Ali Brown, Paul Hunter, and John Battsek – a powerhouse team known for their exceptional leadership, creativity, and unmatched success in the entertainment and advertising industries. Their track record of defining culture is nearly unrivaled across various sectors, and I can’t wait to be part of this dynamic team as we embark on an expansion journey, focusing on brand partnerships, scripted projects, and beyond.”

Before joining Westbrook, Uram was a key executive at CAA for almost a decade, working on their global client strategy team. During this period, he was instrumental in forging partnerships and devising strategies for an extensive range of clients like Scooter Braun, Bad Robot, Daft Punk, Zillow, IMAX, Mayo Clinic, Mattel, and more. In addition to collaborating with CAA’s digital teams, Uram oversaw the creation and distribution of original series on emerging platforms, advocated for digital-first creators, and supported pioneering VR projects featuring talent such as Doug Liman.

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2024-08-05 19:17