David ‘Doc’ O’Connor Poised to Exit CAA to Become CEO of Madison Square Garden (Exclusive)

Longtime CAA partner David “Doc” O’Connor, who helped build CAA’s lucrative sports division, is poised to leave the agency to become CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company, two individuals with knowledge of the negotiations told the Wrap.

The move would be the first exit of one of CAA’s senior partners since private equity firm TPG bought a majority stake in the talent agency in October 2014. At the time, CAA’s partners were said to have signed long-term contracts. O’Connor’s exit raises the question whether other senior partners might also seek to leave in the wake of the TPG payday.

Cablevision spun off MSG as an independent publicly traded company in 2010 with holdings that include sports teams (the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and WNBA’s New York Liberty), MSG cable TV networks and live entertainment/sports venues such as Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and The Forum in Inglewood, California. MSG’s current market cap is $6.4 billion.

O’Connor replaces Tad Smith, who held the CEO job for only a year before departing in March to become CEO of the auction house Sotheby’s. James L. Dolan, who also serves as CEO of Cablevision, has been filling in as interim chief executive at MSG.

CAA had no immediate comment; representatives for MSG could not be reached for comment.

Also Read: Talent Agency Wars: Who's Winning, Who's Losing After CAA Defections

O’Connor began working with Madison Square Garden nearly a decade ago after the 2006 launch of CAA Sports, which represents the world’s top athletes, coaches, broadcasters and brands.

O’Connor has also represented mega-producers such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Red Wagon’s Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher, as well as top writers and directors including Gary Ross, John Lee Hancock, David Koepp, Eric Roth and Ed Solomon. He has also worked with Bruce Willis for years.

O’Connor joined the mailroom at CAA in 1983, though he was promoted to agent in the motion picture department soon thereafter. In 1995, he took over day-to-day management and ownership of the agency along with his partners.

Also Read: Madison Square Garden to Spin Off Live Sports and Entertainment From Media Business

In 1996, O’Connor helped create the CAA Foundation, a first-of-its-kind in the entertainment industry. The Foundation involves the entertainment community and CAA clients in philanthropy and engages organizations to lend their support to a variety of philanthropic programs. It also develops public and private partnerships at both the local and national levels.

In 2008, O’Connor and his partners created and launched Evolution Media Capital, a co-venture between CAA and the former entertainment banking and structured finance group at Merrill Lynch. EMC provides investment banking and advisory, asset management, industry research, and capital-raising services to the media and sports industries.

23 Ballplayer-Turned-Business Moguls in Honor of Dwayne Johnson's 'Ballers' (Photos)

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George Foreman
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Oscar De La Hoya
A retired professional boxer who has won 10 world titles in six different weight classes, De La Hoya started Golden Boy Promotions in 2002, now one of boxing’s most active promoters
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Michael Jordan
Along with his game-changing endorsement deals, the best basketball player ever (sorry, LeBron James) is still in the game as owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Now 52, Jordan claims he can still beat all of his players 1-on-1. Either way, he owns them
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Venus Williams
The world famous tennis player was the first black American woman to become No.1. Although she is now No. 11, she became an interior designer in 2002 and founded V*Starr Interior, as well as designing fitness wear called EleVen
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Serena Williams
Venus' sister is currently ranked the No. 1 tennis player in the world, but that's not enough for her: She has developed a fashion/jewelry line, and is part owner of the Miami Dolphins with her sister Venus
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Tony Hawk
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John Elway
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Dave Bing
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Roger Staubach
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Vinnie Johnson
Nicknamed "The Microwave," Johnson founded the auto supply company Piston Automotive in 1995
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Cal Ripken Jr.
Known as the "Iron Man," Ripken played for the Baltimore Orioles and later bought three minor league teams
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Chris Webber
Webber owns an investment firm, restaurants and real estate. Not bad for a five-time NBA All-Star
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Wayne Gretzky
"The Great One" proved that he is as adept in the food and beverage industry as he was on the NHL ice. Gretzky is a successful restauranteur and winery owner
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Magic Johnson
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Maria Sharapova
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Peyton Manning
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Shaquille O'Neal: (This basketball all-star owns a number of diverse businesses, ranging from gyms to burger franchises to a car wash and even a night club.
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Lenny Dykstra
He started a high-end jet charter company and magazine for professional athletes called the "Player's Club," and also owned a chain of car washes. Unfortunately, Dykstra was charged with credit card fraud, embezzlement, obstruction of justice, filed for bankruptcy and now a convicted felon
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LeBron James
In addition to dabbling in acting - he stars as himself in "Trainwreck" - James is part owner of a soccer team
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Arnold Palmer
Aside from the half-iced tea/half lemonade concoction named after him, one of the best and most-beloved golfers of all-time parlayed his name and talents to golf course design. Palmer also dabbles in hotels
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Dhani Jones
Former linebacker for the Giants, Eagles, Saints and Bengals, Jones started the BowTie foundation, which strives to "foster the personal development of the underdeveloped youth"
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Eddie George
Former running back for the Tennessee Titans, George majored in Landscape Architecture in college, which led to the founding of his company, EDGE
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Rick Mirer
Mirer played for the Seattle Seahawks, the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions, and now co-owns a Napa winery called Mirror Wine Company
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