Why savvy celebs are jumping management ships

With big deals drying up, celebrities and influencers are agent hopping in a bid to secure themselves a piece of the diminishing pie.

Agent hopping is nothing new, however, Confidential couldn’t help but notice a number of big names have jumped ship from one manager to another in recent months.

Perhaps a sign of the times where deals are few and far between, some of Sydney’s hottest talent is looking for a way to get a piece of the ever decreasing pie.

Former Bachelorette turned Home and Away actor Sam Frost and TV personality Abbey Gelmi have both left global agency IMG in recent months to sign with CMC Talent – and the celebrity/agent relationship everyone is talking about is Erin Holland and Sean Anderson.

Samantha Frost recently left IMG to sign with CMC Talent. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Holland signed with Anderson’s 22 management in September last year at the same time her former agent Morgan Barta began working for 22.

“We are thrilled to welcome @erinvholland to the 22mgmt family,” the company’s Instagram page revealed last September.

Erin Holland. Picture: Christian Gilies

However, Confidential hears the signing hasn’t entirely gone according to plan, with Barta leaving earlier this year and Holland now reportedly wanting to follow.

Anderson secured Holland a number of huge contracts this year, including a mega deal with MX Skincare, which was reportedly one of her biggest endorsements to date.

“Erin was happy there, but then Morgan (who brought Holland to 22) wanted to leave, he said, to pursue a job in a different industry,” one insider said.

“However not long after he left Erin said she also wanted to leave, despite 22 having secured her a bunch of big deals. It turns out she wanted Morgan to look after her again.” There is no suggestion that Barta did anything to entice Holland to join him.

Confidential believes lawyers are now involved.

Insiders say the fact so many celebrities, models and influencers are jumping ship is a sign of the times.

“It is tough out there,” they said. “The endorsement pool is small.

“The talent wants their managers hustling for them and making the most money possible, now more so than ever before.

“With an agency like IMG, there’s no real incentive to get the talent work because agents are going to get a wage anyway.”