LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The merger between Endeavor Talent and the William Morris Agency left many former agents and employees looking for a new position but few suspected that William Morris Agency Chairman Jim Wiatt would be among them.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Wiatt has announced that he is planning to leave the firm in the near future.
The merger plans had cast Wiatt continuing in his role as chairman at the newly-formed William Morris Endeavor Entertainment but his effectiveness may have been hamstrung by the wounded feelings among many staff at WMA, especially in the wake of the layoffs last week that saw cuts of 15% of WMA's agents and support staff.
Speculation was rampant as to whether Wiatt was forced out or if he left willingly, but a source close to the matter told the Times that Wiatt was leaving under his own steam. Although the deal has been characterized in the press as a merger between the two companies, Endeavor has largely been acknowledged to be the dominant force in the merger, shedding far fewer agents than their WMA counterparts.
Wiatt has been with WMA since 1999 and before joining the agency, he spent a tenure as Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of ICM. As of yet, no date of departure or a destination for Mr. Wiatt has been announced. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
