Two Top Agencies to Merge

BEVERLY HILLS: Two leading entertainment agencies, Endeavor and William Morris Agency, are merging to form William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment, in a transaction expected to close in the second quarter.

The new agency will be led by Jim Wiatt as chairman, and Ariel Emanuel, Patrick Whitesell and Dave Wirtschafter as co-CEOs. All four will be on a nine-member board guiding the agency, alongside company directors John Fogelman, Peter Grosslight, Rick Rosen, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Adam Venit.

According to published reports, WME will be home to more than 300 agents, representing clients across motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, commercials, sports, marketing and below-the-line production. WMA’s client roster currently includes J.J. Abrams, while Endeavor speaks for such stars as Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Tyra Banks.