EXCLUSIVE: There have been single-figure layoffs in the YMU U.S. team.
We understand around half a dozen staff have been made redundant in the past few weeks and a number have gone on to launch their own agency, Glossary Artists. The staff exiting include three agents and support staff who worked in YMU U.S.’ social media talent division.
Lucy Loveridge, YMU Managing Director Global Entertainment, said the management firm had “made the decision to part ways with a handful of employees from the US Social division.” “Our US Entertainment division remains unaffected and continues to flourish and YMU’s US office is expanding across all sectors,” she said.
Run by ex-UTA exec April Tombs, who remains with YMU, the U.S. division of Simon Cowell and Graham Norton’s agency opened three years ago. The agency also operates music and sport divisions in the States and has offices in L.A., New York and Washington, with clients including soccer player Tyler Adams and music mogul Cowell, who is signed in both the U.S. and UK. We are told London-based YMU boss Mary Bekhait and group vice chair Darren Worsley have spent some time in the States over the past few weeks.
A number of the ex-staffers have launched Glossary Artists, Deadline is told, a boutique agency also located in L.A. Deadline has approached Glossary Artists for comment.
The news comes following a period of sweeping change for YMU in its UK HQ.
Agents and clients have both exited and entered over the past year or so following the agency’s £60M ($79M) sale to Permira Credit, at which point up to 9% of staff were laid off. Most recently, YMU sold its accountancy firm via a management buyout.
