News Byte

Jim Wiatt, AOL's Hollywood Connection, Leaves Board, Becomes "Strategic Director"

Odd one: AOL board member Jim Wiatt is stepping down from that role, but will get a new one as a “strategic advisor,” the company announced. AOL says Wiatt, the former head of the William Morris agency, will report directly to CEO Tim Armstrong, “helping to expand AOL’s development of content, partnerships and relationships across the entertainment and media world.” If this sounds familiar, it should: Google’s Eric Schmidt was discussing a similar role for Wiatt in 2009.

Meet AOL’s BOD: Tim Armstrong May Be Youthful, but His Directors-To-Be Aren’t

AOL continues to prep for its impending spinoff from Time Warner. Today’s step: Announcing the board of directors for the company-to-be. Boldface names of note include William Hambrecht, former head of tech investment bank Hambrecht & Quist; Michael Powell, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; and Jim Wiatt, former head of William Morris. Notably absent: Anyone from Google, Tim Armstrong’s favorite recruiting ground, and any whippersnappers, unless you count 46-year-old Powell.
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Is Google Getting a Hollywood Tour Guide? Former William Morris Boss Jim Wiatt May Take YouTube Consulting Gig.

Does Google need a Hollywood guide? It may be getting one: Jim Wiatt, the former head of the fabled William Morris talent agency, has been talking to the company about a consulting gig for its YouTube video site. Wiatt, who is leaving his old job in the aftermath of his agency’s highly contentious merger with the Endeavor agency, discussed the idea with Google and YouTube executives in Mountain View last week, multiple sources said.
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Shhhhhh! Media, Tech Moguls Meeting Today. Don’t Tell Anyone!

Under normal circumstances, if the CEOs of big companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and Comcast speak in front of an audience of bigwigs, it’s news. But you’re unlikely to hear what John Chambers, Steve Ballmer and Brian Roberts say today and tomorrow at Quadrangle’s Foursquare conference–no press allowed. Unless…