Management Company Fourward Opens Nashville Office, Signs Abby Anderson

Will Ward, Abby Anderson, and Alicia Jones.

Over a year ago, former ROAR manager Will Ward exited to form his own company, Fourward, which encompasses management, production and business development.

The company has now opened a Nashville office, with Black River Entertainment’s Abby Anderson as one of the company’s newest clients. She joins Fourward TV and film clients such as Chris Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth, Cobie Smulders, Aisha Tyler and music clients including Elliphant.

Alicia Jones, who previously served as day-to-day manager for Kelsea Ballerini at Iconic Entertainment Group,  has joined the new company in a management role, with Ben Simonetti in an A&R role. The Nashville office joins Fourward’s other offices in Los Angeles, New York and Melbourne, Australia.

Nashville native Ward previously helped guide the careers of Zac Brown Band and Chris Hemsworth during his time at ROAR. He says his new Nashville office at Fourward allows him to focus on the Nashville market. “That is one thing I had always wanted to do with ROAR,” he says. “I want to build a Nashville roster.”

Prior to founding Fourward and his work at ROAR, Ward represented clients such as Adam Sandler, Edward Norton, Dustin Hoffman and Mark Wahlberg at WME.

Ward first saw Anderson perform in Nashville as part of live music series Whiskey Jam, and says it was Jones who tipped him off that Anderson was in the market for new management. “Abby was electric,” Ward says. “She has this amazing personality and an incredible voice. She’s a star.”

Anderson is currently on the road opening shows for Rob Thomas’ Chip Tooth Smile Tour, and recently released the new song “Good Lord.”

Fourward’s Nashville office is located at 632 Fogg Street in Nashville. The team at Fourward Nashville can now be reached at (424) 303-5000.

In addition, Ward’s career outside of traditional entertainment continues to grow as the co-founder and co-owner of restaurant chain Ottos Tacos. Ward is also the co-founder and co-owner of health, wellness and fitness app Centr alongside private equity giant Quadrant. Centr was one of the most successful launches of an app in the fitness space this year.

Fourward’s Will Ward, Alicia Jones, Ben Simonetti