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WME, IMG teams form Endeavor Content

WME and IMG were involved in The Night Manager

MIPCOM: The film, scripted TV finance and sales arms of US firms WME and IMG are being merged into one content group by parent Endeavor.

Endeavor, formerly WME-IMG, is creating Endeavor Content by bringing together the two groups, which have collectively financed, packaged and/or sold more than 100 films and TV shows in the past 12 months.

The companies’ feature film credits include La La Land, Manchester By The Sea and Arrival, while they have also been involved in TV series such as The Night Manager and The Young Pope.

Graham Taylor, formerly global head of WME, and Endeavor partner Chris Rice have been appointed co-presidents of Endeavor Content.

Partners Mark Ankner, Liesl Copland and Alexis Garcia will continue to lead the group’s advisory practice for financiers and content companies seeking to build entertainment strategies.

All current WME Global and IMG entertainment sales team employees will move to Endeavor Content.

Joe Hipps is joining the new firm as senior VP of television. He previously held the same role at rival agency MRC where he oversaw House of Cards and Ozark.

Negeen Yazdi is joining as senior VP of film. She previously served as president of international production and acquisitions at The Weinstein Company, where she oversaw films including The Imitation Game, Lion and Woman in Gold.

Taylor said: “With the continued disruption taking place across the media landscape, we are forming Endeavor Content to enable talent to achieve better economics and more creative freedom.”

Rice added: “Through our ability to package content, access capital resources and engage our global sales infrastructure, Endeavor Content provides a unique platform designed to empower artists and content creators.”

Gary Marenzi will continue to lead international television sales for Endeavor Content, having previously handled sales for shows including The Night Manager, Dirk Gently and The Grand Tour. The slate currently includes forthcoming series Killing Eve, from Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and a series of seven dramas based on Agatha Christie titles.

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