As Deadline revealed last night, former Verve CEO Bill Weinstein has joined Paradigm along with former Verve colleague Devon Schiff. Both join as agents in the Literary Content department and will be working out of Paradigm’s Los Angeles office.
Appointed as CEO of Verve last January, Weinstein co-founded the agency in 2010 alongside Bryan Besser and Adam Levine. He was previously a motion picture literary agent at WME, and at Endeavor prior to its merger. He began his career in the mailroom at Endeavor.
As Partner and Head of Packaging & Crossover at Verve, Schiff had been focused on representing independent studios, production companies, and multi-hyphenate filmmakers. Previously, she was an executive at Intermedia Films, and an independent producer with a deal at Disney. She began her career in the mailroom at William Morris, and as an assistant at Endeavor.
News of the hirings comes amid a period of growth at Paradigm, which unlike many agencies and many other entertainment firmaments over the course of last year’s double strike, laid off not a single employee, we hear. In point of fact, the agency has been expanding of late, with the hiring of Kyle Jensen and Chris Till from Verve; Todd Eisner, previously at A3 Artists Agency; Brett Hansen, Jamie Kaye-Phillips, and Neil A. Cohen, previously at UTA; and Varun Monga, who came over from Kaplan Stahler Agency. Additionally, the agency has announced multiple internal promotions over the past year, elevating 14 agents to Partner.
What’s more, Paradigm Entertainment, the agency’s parent company, in 2022 announced the launch of Paradigm Media Entertainment, establishing news broadcast and culinary talent representation businesses through the acquisition of Napoli Management Group, Two Twelve Management & Marketing, and 3 Kings Entertainment.
In a statement on the hirings of Weinstein and Schiff, Paradigm Talent Agency Managing Partner Andrew Ruf said, “In this business, whether collaborating or going head-to-head, there is no denying the creativity, intelligence, and passion that Bill and Devon bring to their work. This relentless advocacy on behalf of clients is a great fit with the artist-led approach that remains the core value of Paradigm. We welcome Bill and Devon to the team and remain committed to the continued growth and success of Paradigm.”
Weinstein stated that he’s “always respected Paradigm as a company and [chairman] Sam Gores as an entrepreneur. I am grateful that Andrew Ruf and the leadership have welcomed me to join the dynamic team they have built. I look forward to expanding our collective network and delivering results for our clients.”
Added Schiff, “I am thrilled to join the Paradigm team and their artist-first approach, which aligns with my mission to continue to advocate for clients with passion and intention.”
Just a little over a week ago, Weinstein settled a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Verve’s Besser and Levine over his February ouster from the agency, which sent shockwaves through the town. Intended to secure his reinstatement to the agency he helped build, the suit filed in LA Superior Court asserted that he was kicked out of “without any notice, reason, cause or an opportunity to cure.”
News of his termination, after deliberation by Verve leadership, emerged in mid-February. While the specifics of Weinstein’s settlement are unknown, the suit was “amicably resolved,” according to Glaser Weil’s Julie Gerchik, attorney for Besser and Levine.
Weinstein’s Verve exit was acrimonious, but at the time he issued this statement: “I work with drive and passion to lift my clients to reach their greatest potential. I deeply value my employees and the personal and professional relationships we share. I lead with fairness and patience and a dogged focus toward progress and the future.”
Weinstein has a strong reputation and client list, and this is a strong move for Paradigm.
Following Weinstein in departing Verve in recent weeks were agents Schiff, Matthew Doyle and Jake Dillman. Deadline reported that Weinstein would be setting up his own shop called Novo, bringing the trio aboard. The Paradigm move circumvents that. Next destination for Doyle and Dillman is still unknown.
