Chris Liddell joined WME | IMG as Chief Financial Officer Wednesday, filling the void created by the departure of Peter Klein, whose departure TheWrap reported in early July.
Liddell has more than 30 years of experience as a financial executive, having served as CFO of General Motors from 2010 to 2011 and CFO of Microsoft for four years before that.
“Chris is a seasoned professional with a great track record and we’re excited to welcome him to the team,” Patrick Whitesell and Ari Emanuel, co-CEOs of WME | IMG, said in a statement.
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Liddell will help steer the company through a major transition. WME took on hundreds of millions in debt to swallow a company several times its size; the combined company employs over 5,000 people in 30 different countries. The deal blends one of the premiere talent representation agencies in entertainment, sports and music with a sports agency that operates massive marketing and fashion businesses.
“Joining Patrick, Ari and the WME | IMG team is a unique opportunity,” he said. “The newly combined company occupies an outstanding position in the global sports and entertainment industries, and I’m looking forward to helping build and grow the business.”