Rich Battista Quit as Imagine Entertainment CEO After Clashes With Staff: ‘A Real Hothead’ (Exclusive)

Rich Battista quit Imagine Entertainment after a short but stormy tenure as CEO in which he clashed with co-founder Brian Grazer and won a reputation for being “combustible” and a “hothead,” a knowledgeable insider told TheWrap. The former Time Inc. president and CEO was hired in late August to oversee the film and TV production company founded by Grazer and Ron Howard in 1986 — but quit just nine weeks later after numerous contentious encounters which included pounding on a desk in frustration and suddenly walking out of meetings and not returning, according to one insider. “He’s a real hothead,” the insider said. “Short temper. Short fuse. Women here found him incredibly aggressive…. He’s just got a really bad temper.” Another individual with knowledge of the situation disputed the characterization of Battista’s personality and said his departure was a mutual decision. News of Battista’s exit came late last week over what the second insider called a difference of opinion over the best way to manage Imagine’s business divisions in seeking strategic growth opportunities. Update: In a statement to TheWrap on Tuesday, Imagine said: “Brian and Ron never experienced or observed the behavior reported by TheWrap regarding Rich Battista. His interaction with...

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