# Leslee Dart

> Leslee Dart is an American entertainment publicist who founded The Dart Group in 2004 after leaving PMK. The firm became 42West in 2006, with partners Amanda Lundberg and Allan Mayer, and was acquired by Dolphin in 2017. Her career encompasses film campaigns, representation of actors and filmmakers, a 2009 Matrix Award, and controversy over press access. She moved from co-CEO to an advisory role in 2020; a 2023 report stated that she retired in 2021.

- **Role:** Founder and former co-CEO of 42West; retired from the business in 2021, according to a 2023 report
- **Organizations:** 42West, The Dart Group, PMK/HBH, Rogers & Cowan, Dolphin Entertainment, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- **From:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Public relations degree, School of Journalism; minor in fine arts, University of Southern California
- **Known for:** Founded the agency that became 42West., Received the 2009 New York Women in Communications Matrix Award for public relations., Directed campaigns for more than 300 films and television shows, according to Dolphin’s 2019 proxy biography.

## Career timeline

- **1976** — Graduated from the University of Southern California.
- **1977** — Joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; met future mentor Warren Cowan before joining Rogers & Cowan.
- **1981** — Joined PMK.
- **1983** — Moved to New York to lead PMK’s New York office.
- **1985** — Became an owner of PMK with Pat Kingsley and Lois Smith.
- **1995** — Advised Hugh Grant to appear on The Tonight Show after his arrest.
- **1999** — Worked on the publicity campaign for The Talented Mr. Ripley.
- **2004** — Was fired from PMK/HBH and founded The Dart Group.
- **2005** — Amanda Lundberg joined the new firm.
- **2006** — Allan Mayer joined the partnership; the agency became 42West.
- **2009** — Received the Matrix Award for excellence in public relations.
- **2017** — Dolphin Digital Media acquired 42West.
- **2020** — Moved out of the 42West co-CEO role to a senior advisory position at Dolphin; joined Dolphin’s board in June.
- **2021** — Resigned from Dolphin’s board in May; a later report stated she retired from the business in 2021.

## Achievements

- Founded the agency that became 42West.
- Received the 2009 New York Women in Communications Matrix Award for public relations.
- Directed campaigns for more than 300 films and television shows, according to Dolphin’s 2019 proxy biography.
- Recognized in PRWeek’s 2007 Power List and Nikki Finke’s 2009 Elle power list.

## Latest updates

- **2023-04** — A report on Michael Leon stated that Dart had retired from the business in 2021.
- **2021-05** — Resigned from Dolphin Entertainment’s board, effective May 16, 2021.
- **2020-03** — Announced a move to a senior advisory role at Dolphin as Amanda Lundberg became sole CEO of 42West.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslee-dart-747335169

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/leslee-dart
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23