Yahoo News Agency Shake-Up: Bill Weinstein Out as Verve CEO
Literary agency Verve has parted ways with CEO Bill Weinstein.
“We thank Bill as a co-founder and for his 14 years of service and wish him nothing but success in his future,” Verve leadership said in a statement Monday.
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No reason was given by the agency, although the decision “was made after thoughtful deliberation by Verve’s leadership and approved by Verve’s board and owners,” according to the email announcing the ouster. Some sources have said the move could be financial; the agency, with a strong focus on the literary, was hit hard during the strikes last year. That, coupled with a contraction in television, is hitting many companies and the agency may be no exception. The company rebuffed acquisition overtures from Gersh last summer.
Verve will not be naming a new CEO. The responsibilities of that role will be shared by the founders and managing partner, Liz Parker.
Weinstein was appointed as CEO in January 2023. He was a founding partner with Bryan Besser and Adam Levine. The trio left WME after Endeavor acquired it and launched their own shop in 2010.
Weinstein took on a more active role in Hollywood outside of representation when he engaged in negotiations with the Writers Guild during the contentious talks over packaging fees and affiliate production in 2019. He led Verve in breaking ranks to sign the writers’ code of conduct before the major agencies made their own deals.
Weinstein’s roster of clients included Sara Hess, Michael Arndt, Mike Jones and James Schamus, among others.
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