Curtis Brown buys Ed Victor Ltd

Curtis Brown has bought Ed Victor Ltd, following the passing of agent Ed Victor, aged 78, last month. 

The shareholders of Ed Victor Ltd agreed terms to move their business to Curtis Brown and all rights will be handled by Curtis Brown from now on. Ed Victor Ltd's client list includes former prime minister David Cameron, Andrew Marr, Nigella Lawson and Sophie Dahl, among others.

According to Ed Victor's widow Carol Victor, the sale of the agency to Curtis Brown was Victor's wish in such an eventuality. Victor was represented by Curtis Brown's Jonathan Lloyd when he published The Obvious Diet with Vermilion in 2013, as Lloyd recently recalled in an obituary for The Bookseller.

Carol Victor said: "We are very pleased that Curtis Brown will assume the care of our distinguished clients and continue the work of servicing their back lists and looking after their future interests. I discussed this eventuality with Ed and it was his advice to turn to Curtis Brown, the oldest and most highly respected of agencies and the one he had chosen for himself, when he wrote his own book."

Jonny Geller, joint c.e.o. of Curtis Brown, said: "I was a huge admirer of Ed and when it became clear that Carol and Ed Victor Ltd wanted a home for his wonderful authors, we were very honoured to be invited to offer. We are excited to work with the writers and artists who made Ed Victor Ltd such a huge success for the past 40 years. We may never replace Ed, but we will protect his legacy and provide the best possible service to these world class authors."

Asked about the future for Ed Victor Ltd's staff, who include agent Charlie Brotherstone, a Curtis Brown spokesperson said: "Ed Victor Ltd will continue in its current form whilst the transaction is concluded. This will allow CB to properly meet all of the EVL staff and discuss with them one-to-one the opportunities available to them within CB and its related businesses."