LONDON, U.K.—Former Love Island UK star and social media influencer Sam Bird has stepped down as co-director of global talent agency Surge to take the helm as the CEO of media/payment management app Fanblast.
“Bird will be spearheading Fanblast’s massive expansion across three of the world’s most commercially active creator economies—the United States, United Kingdom and Australia,” a Fanblast representative said. His transition "reflects a broader maturation within the subscription-led creator sector.
“Over the past four years, Sam, alongside his wife and business partner Kailah Casillas built Surge into a globally operating talent studio specializing in branding, growth strategy and premium production for online creators. Having expanded Surge across Miami, Los Angeles, London and Sydney, Bird is now redirecting that operational expertise into his newly acquired asset,” the rep continued.
Fanblast is positioned not as a competitor to subscription platforms such as OnlyFans, but as a complementary monetization layer. The tool enables creators to offer direct fan access via iMessage and WhatsApp, unlocking incremental revenue without requiring audience migration or reliance on new platform adoption.
At a time when artificial intelligence and automation tools are rapidly entering the creator economy, “Fanblast, under Bird’s ownership, is taking a deliberate no-AI approach, centering its model on direct, creator-led communication,” the rep added.
“Having worked closely with subscription creators at scale, I’ve seen both the strengths and the structural gaps in existing platforms,” Bird said. “By taking ownership of Fanblast, I can ensure we provide the infrastructure that strengthens what creators are already building. It adds an additional revenue layer without forcing them to shift audiences or dilute brand control. The opportunity lies in infrastructure that enhances, not replaces.”
Patrick Stasek, who co-founded Fanblast, confirmed he will step down as CEO following the sale to Bird. Stasek said he is proud of the platform the team has built and is confident the company will continue to grow under its new ownership, adding that he is happy to leave Fanblast “in safe hands.”
“The timing of Sam’s purchase couldn’t be better, with new reports suggesting that OnlyFans creators are now among the highest earners in the United States,” the Fanblast rep added.
For more information, visit Fanblast.com and follow Bird on Instagram @samrobertbird.
