CAA hires former foe to work with agencies

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.–Mike Ovitz, who in his landmark deal with Coca-Cola worked around one of the country’s largest ad agencies, is about to try to work w….The chairman of Creative Artists Agency has hired Stephen Carbone, former executive vp of International Creative Management’s worldwide commercial division, to join CAA to spearhead an effort to develop product endorsement, interactive and direct TV marketing, as well as advertiser-supported programming and music events for CAA clients.Carbone, ironically, is the ICM executive who countered CAA’s direct-to-the-client involvement with Coca-Cola, by initiating talks with ad agencies about ways they might work together on the advertiser’s behalf.”I