CAA Names Dasha Smith as Chief Operating Officer, Joins Agency From NFL

CAA has named Dasha Smith as the new chief operating officer, following her tenure at the National Football League.

At the NFL, Smith was executive VP, chief administrative officer, working as a member of commissioner Roger Goodell’s executive operating committee. During her tenure, Smith helped shape the league’s enterprise strategy and oversaw a broad portfolio of business functions, including technology, AI and innovation, data and analytics, strategy and business intelligence, human resources, inclusion, social responsibility and philanthropy and league office administration.

“Dasha is a remarkably talented, accomplished and energetic leader with a deep understanding of how global organizations operate at their very best,” said CAA co-chairman and CEO Bryan Lourd. “We look forward to welcoming her to our senior management team and benefiting from her significant experience helping to guide leading media and sports organizations.”

Added Smith: “I have tremendous respect for the industry leadership position that CAA and its management team continue to build on every year. Even greater is my appreciation for its widely admired, consistent mission to deliver the best possible service and resources to its clients. Joining a culture with that kind of clarity and purpose is an extraordinary opportunity.”

Prior to the NFL, Smith was executive VP, global chief human resources officer for Sony Music Entertainment, and managing director, office of the chairman, at the global investment firm GCM Grosvenor. Smith also spent 10 years at WarnerMedia’s Time Inc., where she led global employee relations and employment law functions. She also served as a senior attorney in Time, Inc.’s business and legal affairs department, focusing on M&A. Smith began her legal career at Latham & Watkins, Covington & Burling, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.