WWE names new EVP of Talent, EVP Chief Legal Officer

Originally published at WWE names new EVP of Talent, EVP Chief Legal Officer

WWE has named two new executive vice presidents.

Dan Ventrelle has joined the company as WWE’s new EVP of Talent and will report directly to Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque.

From the WWE press release:

Ventrelle was most recently with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, where he served as the team’s President. An integral part of the Raiders’ successful move from Oakland to Las Vegas and the opening of the world-class Allegiant Stadium, Ventrelle oversaw all business operations for the team while also serving as lead negotiator for player and coach contracts and as the primary liaison with the NFL. He began his tenure with the Raiders as an attorney in 2004 before expanding into broader business roles. Ventrelle holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Ventrelle was let go by the Las Vegas Raiders this past May with Ventrelle telling the Las Vegas Review Journal that he was fired after bringing to light issues of hostile working conditions to the NFL after Ventrelle believed Raiders’ owner Mark Davis “did not demonstrate the warranted level of concern.”

Maurice F. Edelson has been hired as WWE’s EVP, Chief Legal Officer and reports to co-CEO Stephanie McMahon-Levesque:

Edelson brings to WWE nearly 25 years of legal and business experience within the media, arts and entertainment industries. He joins the company from The Juilliard School, where he served as General Counsel since 2015. Previously, Edelson was EVP & General Counsel of Time Inc., where he also directed Corporate Strategy and M&A during his 16-year tenure. Edelson has also held roles at Time Warner Inc. and Viacom Inc. He began his law career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, after receiving his J.D. from Columbia Law School, his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his B.A. from Vassar College.

Presumably a coincidence, but WWE announcing two ridiculously qualified EVPs today is high comedy.

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That was exactly my first reaction haha. I doubt either of these highly qualified individuals are ever getting bitten by a producer.

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Two positions that needed some attention. The Finances for obvious reasons, Talent relations for some obvious reasons as well. Given Ventrelle’s background in calling out toxic work environments, it seems like a very deliberate change in tenor for the WWE.