WME|IMG has announced the formation of holding company Endeavor, which will take on the full portfolio of owned and operated brands formerly under the WME|IMG banner.
The new entity will be led by Ariel Emanuel as CEO and Patrick Whitesell as executive chairman, both of whom will continue to sit on the company’s board.
Beginning with Silver Lake’s initial investment in WME in 2012, Endeavor has attracted strategic partners including CPPIB, Fidelity, Focus Media, FountainVest, GIC, Mubadala, Sequoia Capital, SoftBank and Tencent.
Companies under the Endeavor umbrella include global entertainment agency WME and it financing and packaging division WME Global; sports, events, media and fashion company IMG; UFC; Droga5; Professional Bull Riders; The Miss Universe Organisation; and Frieze.
Endeavor encompasses a range of premium properties and agencies, including comedic management house, Dixon Talent, and artist management and consulting agency, The Wall Group. Additionally, the Endeavor group of companies includes a number of strategic joint ventures like Euroleague Basketball and ELEAGUE, an eSports league created in conjunction with Turner, as well as a subsidiary in China.
“WME|IMG represented a pivotal moment in our company’s history, but it does not accurately reflect the extent of our diversity or indicate where we’re headed,” Emanuel said. “In creating Endeavor, we now have a holding company that represents the very definition of the word itself, constantly striving to push boundaries on behalf of our clients and owned properties.”
Whitesell said: “Our business at its core remains rooted in access, service and creativity. The one substantial difference is that unlike 20 years ago, we’re now sitting at the centre of an incredible global network. We have the relationships and the platforms to help our clients and partners extend their reach and bring their creative initiatives to life.”
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