Ovitz Under Fire At IMG

Michael Ovitz, founder and one-time head of CAA, made a bid to take over sports agency IMG that has reportedly backfired in a big way.

With IMG Worldwide Chairman Ted Forstmann seriously ill with cancer, entertainment news blog The Wrap reports that board member Ovitz attempted to create an “executive committee” within the board for management to report to instead of Forstmann and IMG President/CEO Michael Dolan.

But other members of the advisory board rejected the idea, and turned on Ovitz after considering the move to be disrespectful to Forstmann, The Wrap said. The blog also reports that board members Jerry Perenchio, ex-CEO of Telemundo and Irving Azoff, also Live Nation’s executive chairman, are now “leading the charge to get Ovitz booted.”

The IMG board was to meet Sept. 30 to discuss Ovitz, a member of the board told The Wrap.

IMG is the world’s largest sports agency, with clients including Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Nike and Rolex.