Several Notable WWE Office Departures and Office Changes

WWE made several office cuts on February 10th that are desrcibed as a "purge of senior licensing executives". Jim Connelly, one of WWE’s top executives, was released along with Florence DiGiorgio and Dean Miller.

Connelly, hired in 2009 and considered to be a major pick-up, worked as Senior Vice President of Consumer Products. Dean Miller worked under Connelly as the Senior Manager of Home Entertainment and Florence DiGiorgio, hired back in the 90′s, worked as WWE’s Senior Director of Global Licensing.

WWE’s official word on the departures is that they are re-organizing that department but the feeling was that Vince McMahon made the moves at the worst time – right before the big New York Toy Fair last week. At the Toy Fair, people from WWE’s Consumer Products division were awkwardly dancing around questions on who to contact within WWE for potential licensing deals. Within WWE, people have been surprised at the timing of gutting that department.

WWE headquarters is still in the process of undergoing major changes, with the office space being reorganized to reflect designated space for each department.

Joey Styles, who runs the WWE’s website, recently confirmed those reports when a fan asked him on Twitter if he works from home. Styles replied:

“I work in the newly renovated office space for TV Creative, Magazine and .com at WWE HQ.”

sources: wrestling observer newsletter & sports business daily

Interesting note...

A year ago, WWE held a Global Business Partners Summit and Vince McMahon announced that the compnay had formally rebranded itself - WWE. Of all the Executives that presented at the Summit, only Stephanie McMahon, Paul Levesque & Michelle Wilson are still with the company. The following was the line-up of speakers at last years Summit. Their current status is in bold:

The New WWE Initiative, Partnerships and TV Strategy (Michelle Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer) - Still CMO with the company

New Talent Development Program (Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Senior Advisor) - Currently EVP, Talent

WWE Studios (Mike Pavone, EVP, WWE Studios) - Left the company in August 2011 and was replaced by Michael Luisi

International Update (Andrew Whitaker, EVP, International) - Left the company in September 2011. The International division is now run by SVP & Managing Director, Dominic Hayes

Digital and Social Media Update (Brian Kalinowski, EVP, Digital) - Left the company in August 2011. This division has been absorbed under the Creative division and is run by Stephanie McMahon

Kids Initiative and New Product Launches (Jim Connelly, SVP, Consumer Products) - Left the company in February 2012.

Stephanie McMahon emceed the event and was listed as EVP, Creative Development & Operations. Her title has since been changed to EVP, Creative; however looking at her executive bio and reading her interview with Entertainment Weekly describing her work day, she sounds more like the Chief Operating Officer.