Casey Wasserman

Casey Wasserman (born 1974) is an entertainment executive, sports agent executive and owner of the former Arena League football team, the Los Angeles Avengers. Born Casey Myers, he is the son of the Los Angeles socialite and philanthropist Lynne Wasserman and Jack Myers (formerly Meyerowitz). Casey's parents were divorced and he took his mother's maiden name, also the name of his famous grandfather Lew Wasserman. His sister's name is Carol Ann Leif. He is married to movie music supervisor Laura Ziffren.[1]

Family background and education

Wasserman obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). But it was his grandfather, Lew Wasserman, head of MCA, whom he claims to be his greatest teacher. The two would have breakfast together every Saturday and Sunday from the time when Casey was a child to the elder Wasserman's death in 2002.[2] The younger Wasserman was quoted as saying, "He was my most valuable resource in terms of information. In broad terms he knew what he wanted to do and I followed in his footsteps."[3] After graduation from UCLA, Casey Wasserman worked as an investment banker.

Arena Football

In 1998, he purchased the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League (AFL), paying about $5 million for the franchise rights, and thus becoming the youngest person ever to own a professional sports team. Despite his age, he was elected Chairman of the league. In 2002 he negotiated a groundbreaking national television partnership between the league and NBC television, as well as the collective bargaining agreement with its players. On Saturday, April 18, 2009, Wasserman sent an email to AFL's de facto commissioner informing him of his decision to terminate the L.A. Avengers' membership in the Arena Football League.[4]

Wasserman Media Group

The same year that he purchased the football team, Casey Wasserman started Wasserman Media Group, a sports marketing and talent management company, of which he remains CEO.

In 2002, Wasserman acquired the sports marketing and naming-rights company Envision and the action sports marketing and representation firm The Familie, based in Carlsbad, CA.

In 2004, they purchased 411 Productions and a few months later relaunched it as Studio 411, a sports entertainment film studio. The business was designed to provide financing, obtain sponsorships and arrange distribution in support of original productions.[5]

In January, 2006 Wasserman Media Group acquired the NBA and MLB sports agent business of Arn Tellem a well-known sports agent who joined Wasserman Media Group as well. Several of Tellem's sports agent colleagues also joined Wasserman Media as part of this deal.[6] Tellem is currently a principal at the company and runs one of the most successful management groups in the business.

In November 2006, the company acquired a leading soccer agency, SFX, in the UK.[7] Through that acquisition, Wasserman represents many of the world's leading soccer players including Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen, Tim Cahill, Jonathan Woodgate, Wes Brown, Scott Parker, Jack Wilshere, Park Ji-Sung, Shay Given, Tim Howard and Emile Heskey.

In June 2007, Wasserman Media Group expanded its consulting and media and property capabilities by purchasing Raleigh, NC-based OnSport. [8]

In early 2011, Wasserman continued its international growth with the acquisition of London-based media rights manager and advisory firm Reel Enterprises.[5] [9]

Wasserman expanded its golf talent roster by acquiring SFX Golf in April 2011. [10]

Other activities

Wasserman also acts as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wasserman Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Lew Wasserman and his wife Edie in 1952.[11] He sits on two of the Motion Picture and Television Fund's three boards of directors - the MPTF Corporate Board[12] and the MPTF Foundation Board.[13] In an April 13, 2009, article in the Los Angeles Times, Wasserman is quoted as having explained that the decision of the MPTF Boards to close its hospital and transfer its elderly long-term care residents would "allow [the MPTF] to thrive for generations."[14]

References

  1. ↑ IMDB (Laura Ziffren)
  2. ↑ Feature in Sport Business Journal, ca. 2002
  3. ↑ Daily Bruin, UCLA
  4. ↑ LATimes
  5. ↑ Wasserman Launches Studio411 2004 article
  6. ↑ "Wasserman Acquires Tellem Business', Sports Business Daily, January 27, 2006
  7. ↑ Wasserman Media Group Acquires SFX Sports Group
  8. ↑ http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2007/06/Issue-188/Sports-Industrialists/Wasserman-Media-Group-Acquiring-Gary-Stevensons-Onsport.aspx
  9. ↑ http://www.investinuk.net/investmentuk/?p=586
  10. ↑ http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wasserman_growth_continues_with_sfx_golf_purchase/
  11. ↑ Wasserman foundation
  12. ↑ (MPTF Corporate Board)
  13. ↑ Foundation Board)
  14. ↑ Times)

External links