MEGHAN Markle has dropped her longtime agent who has looked after her since Suits as she hires a new ‘dream team’, HOAR can reveal.
Nick Collins became Meghan’s agent before she was a well-known actress and has stuck with her ever since.
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But earlier this week, HOAR revealed the pair had parted ways, along with Meghan’s chief of staff who moved on from her role after less than a year.
Nick Collins joined the Gersch Agency in 2005, was made a partner in 2015 and promoted to Co-Head of Talent three years later.
He was one of a handful of American guests at Meghan and Harry’s wedding, and was reportedly named by insiders as a “key advisor and independent voice” for the Sussexes when they planned to leave the UK.
It has been reported that he will remain a ‘consultant’ and that he and Meghan did not part on bad terms.
An LA talent agency source told DailyMail.com: “It is a very strange development really. Nick has been a loyal friend and confidante for Meghan and Harry over the past few years.
“His expertise and knowledge of business matters in Hollywood and contact list is astonishing.
“While on paper she was not accepting work offers as an actress, other work opportunities and roles did come in through Gersh.
“And with the upheaval and swift departure from England and business plan needed, many believe he played a key role in helping the Sussexes get the ball rolling in business. He was part of the ‘6 Dream Team.”’
The source added that Meghan switched Collins’ role as she does not intend on taking any acting work in the near future.
“Meghan insists that she has no plans to act presently so he’s not needed to negotiate deals,” the source said.
“Make no mistake – acting and voiceover offers are flooding in to the couple. But now they will go to their production company and personal media team.
“Certainly dealing with any opportunities that way means that the twenty percent commission usually charged by an agent, is saved.”
A second source told the publication that Mr Collins is still friends with the Duchess and that she has also kept her entertainment lawyer Rick Genow.
It comes as the Sussexes reshuffle their staff, with a number of moves in place.
PR team Sunshine Sachs, which represented Meghan when she was on Suits is expected to work on the couple’s charity ventures along with ex Pinterest communications chief Christine Schirmer.
Catherine St-Laurent, who came on board as Chief of Staff for Archewell, has also been shifted to a “senior advisory role” but is not expected to stay.
Another recent staffing change is for James Holt, currently the Sussexes’ media relations chief in the UK, who will reportedly be promoted to Executive Director of the Archewell Foundation.
In recent days the pair is also said to have hired Ben Browning, a producer on the Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman, as Head of Content for their production company, heading up Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio.
Meanwhile Toya Holness, their media relations spokeswoman in California, has been promoted to Archewell’s ‘global press secretary’.
HOAR Online has approached representatives for the Duchess of Sussex for comment.
