Karl Stefanovic’s wife Cass Thorburn signs new deal with controversial celebrity agent Max Markson

EXCLUSIVE: Karl Stefanovic’s journalist wife Cass Thorburn has signed with renowned king of spin Max Markson as she attempts to re-enter the workforce.

• Stefanovic’s wife claims credit for TV star’s success
• Cass Thorburn spotted amid marriage woes

KARL Stefanovic’s journalist wife Cass Thorburn has signed with renowned king of spin Max Markson as she attempts to re-enter the workforce.

Hot on the heels of her now infamous facebook rant, the scorned mother-of-three has signed with the celebrity spruiker, who has in the past worked with polarising figures including party boy Corey Worthington, former marathon swimmer Susie Maroney, Chk Chk Boom girl Clare Werbeloff and former Today Tonight reporter Naomi Robson.

Cass Thorburn spotted with Max Markson has signed a deal with the celebrity agent. Picture: DIIMEX

He also famously worked with Lara Bingle during “Bingle-gate” where he negotiated a $200,000 fee with a woman’s magazine following the Brendan Fevola nude picture scandal, however that ended in tears with the model vowing to never accept payment for an interview again.

Now, in a move that has raised significant eyebrows in Australian media and social circles, it’s Thorburn he’s set to start negotiating for with the Markson Sparks owner understood to be on the hunt for work for the former journalist.

“Signing with Max is a very unexpected move,” said a source close to Thorburn.

Mother-of-three Cass Thorburn on her way to the rendezvous yesterday. Picture: DIIMEX

Markson has already begun to act for Thorburn. Picture: DIIMEX

He posted a retaliatory blog on the Popsugar site Picture: DIIMEX

Cass and Karl split around a month ago.

The couple first met in the mid-1990s.

“But obviously she needs a job now and Max has clearly told her he can do that for her.”

In a bizarre move Markson is understood to have already placed a story with fashion blog Popsugar earlier this week in response to an article written by News Corp columnist Angela Mollard who penned a piece about why women should never give up their jobs after having children.

The couple, who have three children - Jackson, 16, Ava, 11 and River, 10 - are believed to have split a month ago.

Thorburn, who has kept a relatively low profile throughout Stefanovic’s rise to stardom, retaliated with an open letter where she explained how she is well aware of how “competitive” and the “pressures” of work can be on working women, however that it’s no reason to make stay at home mothers feel like they had made the wrong decision.

“I’m aware you spend your days in a competitive environment,” she wrote on Popsugar.

“You’re often surrounded by young co-workers who are a constant reminder that someone is biting at your heels and there are deadlines to meet and pressures at work — and then you race home and your children need you also. It’s never ending. I get it.

Karl and Cassandra at a gala dinner in Pyrmont in 2014. Picture: Belinda Rolland

Thorburn has spoken out about their split in recent week.s Picture: Jonathan Ng

“What I don’t get is why, in my experience, you also feel you’re in competition with us, the stay-at-home mums who made a different decision than you. Not a better or worse decision, just the right decision for us and a different one to you.”

Prior to that she took to Facebook with an emotionally charged rant about how she deserves some of the credit for her husband’s success.

“Apparently Today Show finally won a year,” she wrote.

“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that happen.”

When Confidential phoned Markson for comment yesterday he confirmed the signing and added, “I am, delighted to confirm Markson Sparks are now officially representing Cass Thorburn.”