CAA’s Eric Wattenberg Joins Wheelhouse Group as Chief Content Officer

Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse Group has tapped Eric Wattenberg, a longtime agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), to be the company’s chief content officer.

In his new role, Wattenberg will run Wheelhouse Group’s entertainment endeavors across all areas of the company. He will focus on working with current Wheelhouse talent and creating a “first stop” for entertainment, sports and music A-listers. He will also package long- and short-form TV and digital/streaming series and advance scripted and feature projects. Wattenberg’s remit further includes working with the company’s in-house creative and branding agency, its business development and investment arm, and maximizing opportunities for Wheelhouse Group’s media and talent partnerships, acquired companies and startups.

At CAA, Wattenberg represented such talent as Kelly Ripa, Andy Cohen, Nick Cannon, Hoda Kotb, Neil Patrick Harris, Billy Porter, Dr. Oz, Jenna Bush Hager, Russell Wilson, Ciara and Ted Allen. He also represented production companies, including Truly Original, Imagine Entertainment, Matador Content, Sharp Entertainment, Nick Cannon’s N’Credible, BBC Worldwide Productions and others.

Wheelhouse Group CEO Montgomery said: “Eric was in my first ever agency meeting and has been a colleague and friend ever since; he is one of the most respected agents in the history of unscripted and I’m thrilled, both professionally and personally, to be working with him now as my partner. He joins us at an exciting and pivotal time, and represents a major step in building out our overall content business as we work to grow Wheelhouse Group into a home for five-star talent looking to match our ambition and momentum with the expansion of their own brands.”

Wattenberg added: “CAA is an incredible organization and I have been beyond blessed to work alongside some of the world’s top talent—not just on the client-side, but within the walls of this remarkable agency that makes you want to be the very best—for your clients, for your partners, and for yourself. Brent’s vision for Wheelhouse Group as an aggregator of talent, content, brands and capital feels like a swing for the fences in the evolution of our business; it is a uniquely exciting, entrepreneurial prospect that I simply couldn’t pass up. I am incredibly grateful to my colleagues at CAA for the amazing opportunities and friendship they have offered me over ten years, and I plan on continuing to work with them very closely in this new venture.”