Casey Wasserman is stepping down and the agency he founded is going on the market after newly surfaced material in the Jeffrey Epstein files tied him to Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. Public documents describe the encounters as consensual, but the disclosure rattled clients across Wasserman’s sports, marketing and entertainment divisions and rekindled questions about his involvement with LA28.
An interim leadership team will take the reins while the company begins a formal sales process. Providence Equity, which holds a controlling stake, praised the temporary managers and pledged continued investment as the firm navigates the transition. No schedule for the sale or a shortlist of potential buyers has been disclosed.
The revelations arrived in an industry that treats reputation as a prized asset. Corporate partners, sponsors and talent representatives often react quickly to protect contracts and brand associations, and insiders say the immediate priorities are keeping client services steady and making sure sponsorship deals don’t unravel. How the agency communicates next—both publicly and to its roster—will shape confidence among talent and commercial partners.
Mike Watts, the agency’s president, has been named interim head to steer daily operations and manage the sale process. Providence framed Watts and the senior team as steady hands while strategic options are evaluated, from a single strategic buyer to a more complex break-up or selective divestitures designed to strengthen key units.
Potential bidders are already circling. Rival agencies such as CAA, WME and UTA, along with private buyers, are said to be assessing which pieces would add the most value. Wasserman’s mix of businesses—sports representation, marketing services and talent management—complicates the picture. Brillstein Entertainment Partners, the well-known management arm that represents A-list actors, is one asset likely to attract particular interest. Company advisors caution that carving the firm apart could erode scale advantages, weaken cross-selling opportunities and risk client flight.
So far there are no public allegations of legal wrongdoing tied to the disclosures, but the reputational damage has had internal consequences. Some prominent clients—especially women who are sensitive to association risk—pushed for rapid change at the top. Reports say members of the music roster urged the founder to step aside, and some Brillstein managers have begun moving clients to other representation.
What buyers and partners will watch most closely is whether marquee clients and sponsorship revenue stay intact. Early signals from the company, Providence and public records will be parsed for clues about governance, client continuity and commercial stability. For employees and talent, the core ask remains simple: uninterrupted representation, protection of contractual rights and clear information about what any sale would mean for day-to-day relationships.