Thomas Zeumer

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Thomas Zeumer is a successful entrepreneur and former president and CEO of top modelling agency Metropolitan Models.^[1] He is best known for developing top models Heidi Klum, Claudia Schiffer, and Eva Herzigova, all of whom were at one time under contract with Metropolitan models.^[2]

1 Biography
2 See also
3 References
4 External Links

[edit] Biography

Thomas Zeumer was born in Hamburg, Germany. After graduation, he finished a traditional German training program in fur wholesale merchandising at Rosenberg & Lenhart. He then attended and graduated from the Parisian Fashion School of Design "Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture". He began managing his family's store, and his successful managing ability and engaging manner with people earned the store’s highest sales during his time there. In the early eighties, he came to New York in order to expand and broaden his education. He was appointed Vice President of Sales at Revillon Freres. There he had the opportunity to work closely with the world’s most famous designers, selling their lines to major retail operations. He also licensed the labels and created his own designs which were sold directly from the showroom to an elite upscale clientele. One year later he joined the famous Gilles Mendel Haute Fourrure and Haute Couture store at Elizabeth Arden, on 5th Avenue in New York. As a national consultant and one of the world’s foremost specialists in the finest and most expensive clothes, he succeeded in selling products totalling millions of dollars to the rich and famous. He organized shows at the major Elizabeth Arden stores throughout the USA.

Zeumer handpicked the models for the shows and observed with fascination the magnetism of beauty and glamour, and the money which came with it. Soon he started a modelling agency in New York City. He realized immediately that in order to find, build, and manage stars, he needed to have international alliances. In 1989 he forged his first partnership with Metropolitan Paris. Metropolitan New York was born. Shortly thereafter, his ability to spot raw talent, manage careers and create supermodels propelled his agency into the top. He developed Claudia Schiffer, along with many other models such as Eva Herzigova, Heidi Klum and a long list of extraordinary success stories, many of whom who also became famous in the movie business. Some of the most notable in that group are Margeaux Hemmingway, Connie Nielson, Monica Potter, January Jones, Ines Rivero, Franky Ryder and Daniela Urzi. There are simply too many to list them all. Thomas also worked with sports stars such as Steffi Graf, Shannon Briggs and numerous more, developing their images and public profiles. As one of the creators of corporate branding collaboration, he closed major endorsement deals with Revlon, Coca Cola, Wonderbra, Victoria’s Secret, Chanel, Valentino, and countless others.

In the late nineties Zeumer began to focus on the ancillary business opportunities of modeling. The strategic move to focus on the European markets fit right into the mood and momentum of the times. He understood that by taking the dynamics, the visions and the creativity he had developed to the growing European market there would be huge growth potentials offering a promising future. Opening an outlet in Munich, Zeumer made alliances with Radikal Records and Silvio Sardi Filmproductions. The guest of honour for the opening of Metropolitan Munich was Nicole Kidman. In 2005 Zeumer opened up the successful TBD Enterprises in New York City. TBD is a star brokerage and entertainment company with a unique perspective on the industry. He has just finished a book about the rise of the supermodels he managed. Zeumer has appeared in many TV shows and countless press articles. He lives in New York and Munich.^[3] He is launching a new social networking website called tomZworld with a focus on the fashion and modelling industry.^[4]