In today’s fame economy, the right brand deal can make or break a celebrity. And no one understands that better than Tom Iana.
The enterprising founders of Thomas Christian Management have built an empire that connects reality stars, influencers, billionaires, and elite medical professionals with luxury brands whose names and faces remain everywhere.
Based between New York City and the Hamptons, Iana is part manager, part strategist, part fixer, and a jack of all trades. His boutique agency has become the go-to for talent looking for the new currency of celebrity: access and authenticity.
“No two clients are the same,” he told Page Six in an exclusive interview. “Every relationship is bespoke and carefully chosen to reflect an individual’s unique lifestyle, goals and needs.”
In other words, he’s the man behind modern fame. Fame is built not by Hollywood studios, but by carefully negotiated contracts, surgically precise postings, and deals higher than most network salaries.
“Transactions in this area range from $10,000 to well over $1 million,” Ierna said. “Today, brands are much more selective about who they partner with. They’re looking for performance metrics, engagement data, and credibility. Gone are the days of signing someone just because they’re famous.”
And Yelna probably knew too. After six years at Talent Resources, the leading company that virtually invented matchmaking between influencers and brands, he started his own management company to bring a more hands-on, concierge-style approach to a business often defined by disruption.
He currently brokers partnerships with companies such as Target, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, NBCUniversal, and DraftKings, as well as a glittering roster of talent including Real Housewives icons from around the world, including Melissa Gorga, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania, Jackie Goldschneider, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley, Jill Zarin, and more.
But in Yerna’s world, managing a modern celebrity means not only negotiating post-rates, but also managing egos, expectations, and occasional meltdowns. “There’s no day like any other,” he says. “Every day is a roller coaster of highs and lows and pure adrenaline as we work to realize our clients’ goals.”
This includes everything from arranging prestigious events to facilitating the ‘talent trade’. There, high-value services (facelifts, cosmetics, luxury vacations, etc.) are exchanged for exposure.
“The terms and conditions are detailed in the contract,” Ierna explains. “What talent receives, what brands and professionals deliver, and what are the obligations of both parties? It prevents misunderstandings and ensures accountability. Everyone wins fairly. Talent gets high-value services, and providers get visibility and marketing benefits.”
This is a delicate dance. It’s both business and art, and it’s all about timing. “When support is forced, viewers sense it,” he added. “Celebrities should only promote what they truly believe in. Authenticity is everything.”
At Yerna, the word reliability comes up a lot. It’s his north star in a landscape filled with fame-hungry personalities and Instagram-friendly fantasies. “So many people are hungry for fame, but when fame itself is the only goal, it rarely leads to fulfillment or lasting success,” he says.
And he’s not afraid to admit that managing influencers and reality stars can be more difficult than working with traditional celebrities.
“It really depends on the person, but reality stars and influencers can come across as people with more inflated egos and strong self-esteem. While traditional actors and athletes often build their careers over years, many reality stars achieve overnight fame. That sudden exposure can amplify their entitlement.”
Still, Ierna’s combination of grit and charm, honed during her early days as an intern and taking on whatever tasks were thrown at her, has given her a secure position in an increasingly unpredictable industry. “Grit is the foundation,” he says. “Long hours, failure, persistence, and discipline. And charm acts as a finishing layer to help convey or show results.”
However, behind the glamor, there is always a struggle going on. “The best part of my job is the freedom to design my own life,” he admits. “But the hardest part is that it’s 24/7. Whether I’m in Paris or Miami, I’m always working.”
What in return? Access — something that money usually can’t buy.
The onboarding process for his clients feels more like joining an exclusive membership club than signing with a management company. It begins with a discreet phone call, followed by a private meeting under a confidentiality agreement where goals are discussed in hushed voices over espresso.
“In fact, I turn away more clients than I accept,” he says. “It’s not about selling, it’s about curating true partnerships.”
Its exclusivity has made Yelna one of the most trusted names among high-end and luxury brand professionals, from cosmetic surgeons to health gurus, who rely on Yelna to connect with top brands and elite influencers.
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“My role is to bridge those worlds,” he says. “We create bespoke VIP experiences that are seamless, personal and unforgettable. It’s not just about access, it’s about anticipating what will truly improve their lives.”
And while the influencer market is saturated, Ierna believes the next stage will favor those who have made efforts both online and offline. “Brands are refocusing their budgets on bigger, more recognizable names,” he says. “Rather than spreading resources across multiple smaller influencers, they are choosing to invest in one celebrity who can have a broader reach and more powerful impact.”
He’s proud of every partnership he’s forged, from flashy TV commercials to collaborations that have taken him around the world, from New York to Los Angeles to the French Riviera. “These experiences make the job even more rewarding,” he says.
As for what’s next, Ierna has her eyes firmly set on expansion. He plans to branch out into television and film production while continuing to grow the concierge division and make a name for himself in the luxury hospitality field. There’s also talk of a book, but he’s not really going to spill too much. “I’m working on a few things,” he teases. “stay tuned.”
In the meantime, he will continue to be an invisible force shaping how we think about fame, influence, and access in 2025. “At the end of the day, my job is to make the magic happen and make sure everyone doing it looks great,” says Ierna.
