LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Mark Shapiro and Ioris Francini have been named as Co-Presidents of talent agency powerhouse WME | IMG.
As Co-Presidents, Shapiro and Francini will oversee the company’s media, events, fashion (including IMG Models, Art + Commerce, and The Wall Group), licensing, global partnerships, original content, IMG College, IMG Academy, The Miss Universe Organization, Professional Bull Riders, and Frieze businesses, in addition to the company’s new China subsidiary.
“Mark and Ioris have been great partners these past few years, helping us integrate WME and IMG, generate organic growth, and expand into new business lines and geographies,” said agency Co-CEOS Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell “WME | IMG is a strong, dynamic business with exciting opportunities ahead, and Mark and Ioris combine the vision and expertise to help the company succeed in this next chapter.”
Before joining WME | IMG in 2014, Shapiro was CEO of Dick Clark Productions. Prior to that, he did stints as President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and head of production and programming at ESPN.
Francini came to the agency through IMG, which he joined in 2003 as Head of Sales for Media in Italy before relocating to London in 2007 to lead sales across EMEA. In 2012, he was upped to Executive Vice President of IMG Media and then to President of IMG Media in 2014.
Shapiro will continue to be based in New York; Francini, in London, the company said. – Staff Writers
