After a dozen years, the Lippin Group and the TV Academy are parting ways.
Lippin, the corporate PR powerhouse that represents a number of major Hollywood business clients, has told the Academy that it won’t be renewing its contract when it expires at the end of the year. That’s according to a letter sent by Lippin chief Dick Lippin to TV Academy chief executive officer John Shaffner Tuesday, and obtained by TheWrap.
"For 12 years, through four administrations, we have represented the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and are extremely proud of the role we have played in serving The Academy and its Foundation," Lippin wrote. "However, this is to notify you that we have no plan to continue in that role past the expiration of our current contract that ends December 31, 2009."
Lippin said he was making the call now "so we can affect the smoothest transition possible."
So what’s behind the Lippin move? The company declined comment.
However, as any journalist who’s covered the Academy can attest, the organization is a particularly leak-prone place. It’s possible Lippin simply grew wary of trying to stay ahead of those leaks as it attempted to manage publicity for the organization.
The news of Lippin’s exit from the Academy account follows a particularly chaotic time for the Academy, which unsuccessfully tried to shake up the Emmy telecast.
