ICM Gripped By Discontent & Anxiety As CAA Acquisition Decision Draws Near

deadline.com:

The steady trickle of agents leaving ICM Partners over the past nine months has grown into a stream in the last week, with dozens of reps making inquiries to other agencies and management companies as they mull their future ahead of the pending Department of Justice ruling on ICM’s proposed acquisition by CAA.With the merger decision expected in the next couple of weeks, the prospect of ICM staff moving to CAA has become real, and so have the invites to join the combined agency after months of hints and winks.

While no hiring/layoff decisions can be made while the regulatory approval process is ongoing, by now everyone knows where they stand.

Staff reductions are an inevitable byproduct of any merger, and with the proceedings dragging on for so long, a number of ICM agents already left for other jobs ahead of the deal close — either because they chose to move on or because they knew or feared that they were not chosen to go to CAA or both.The list of notable departures of agents who already have landed elsewhere include Jeff Barry, Dan Baime, John Burnham, Josh Rahm, Matt Sorger, April King, Ariel Meislin, Adam Ginivisian, Nathalie Didier, Christina Bazdekis, Denise Draper, JR Ringer, Kevin Hussey, Brett Passis and Will Kircher.There are a number of other agents who are now in play, also under different circumstances: some have not been invited, others have opted for a new start instead of moving to another major agency job and some were not satisfied with the offer they have received.

Most of the agents who have signaled an exit from ICM are already plotting their next career move and some are close to landing elsewhere.