News
Caroline Michel takes over at PFD
12.09.07 | Joel Rickett
Caroline Michel, m.d. of the William Morris agency in the UK, is leaving to become chief executive of rival agency PFD. Michel has been brought in over the heads of the PFD management team, who have been attempting to negotiate a £4m buyout from parent CSS Stellar.
Michel’s appointment was made by David Buchler, the new executive chairman of CSS, who has promised to reshape PFD. It is likely to scotch any possibility of a management buyout at the literary and talent agency, as well as the £8m offer from Chorion. The reaction of the 14 lead PFD agents to the news is not known; Michel is meeting her new team this afternoon.
Michel joined William Morris in 2005 after a turbulent stint as m.d. of HarperCollins’ literary division HarperPress. She previously spent a decade as publisher of Vintage. She is married to (Lord) Matthew Evans, former chairman of Faber. Her departure from US-centred William Morris is
said to be amicable.
PFD, based in Covent Garden, represents writers including Julian Barnes, Alan Bennett, Simon Schama, as well as directors, actors and composers including Ricky Gervais, Dawn French, Ewan Macgregor and Keira Knightley.
It also controls the estates of classic authors including Hilaire Belloc, Nancy Mitford, and Evelyn Waugh. Since 2001 it has been a subsidiary of publicly-listed sports and events company CSS Stellar. Buchler, who has replaced the retired Peter Owen as CSS chairman, has a track record in corporate turnarounds. Michel will also join the CSS board as executive director.
Comments on this article
By DK Emmanuel
I have a book, and this book promises to be the book of the Millennium. The title of the book is THE ISRAELI CODES. I would love to have a chat with Ms Caroline Michel about this book. I suspect she may have heard about the unedited draft which seems to have already got out. I'm afraid, due to the fact that the book has leaked out already, I hardly have any privacy due to the attention it has generated, so even the following email address is not so private.17 May 08 07:40
By Ms. Caroline
Dear Mr. Sir, My name is Warda am female 29years old from Oman am screenwriter. I don’t have any experience like working with professional people like you, I just did have hobby which start in 4 years or 5 years back and I start writing some stories on my own. Since I believe my self and I believe I have an interest imagination that I was not really able to do any thing with it since in our country people really don’t feel that much interest with such subject. So far I wrote two stores and it’s really completely different from any other movies you watched on TV so far. I would love to work with any agency who believes on me and ready to produce my stores & give a good officer. I was wondering if your doing such business please let me know. Looking forward for your replay Thanks & Regards Name : Warda Al- Shukairy. Mobile Number : 968 923 260 23 please feel free to call me any time. Sultanate of Oman – Muscat09 Feb 10 11:23
