William Wackermann is a media executive, author and the founder of Wackermann & Partners, a celebrity public relations agency based in New York and Los Angeles. He is also the former chief executive officer of Wilhelmina International Inc. (Wilhelmina Models) in New York City.Wilhelmina Taps Ex-Condé Nast Veteran Bill Wackermann as CEO, by Alexandra Steingrad; in Women's Wear Daily; published January 16, 2016; retrieved September 27, 2017The No-BS Approach of Wilhelmina's Bill Wackermann, by Emily Ramshaw; in Coveteur; published December 9, 2016; retrieved September 27, 2017 Before joining Wilhelmina, Wackermann held the position of executive vice president at Conde Nast.
Career Wackermann started his career in sales and marketing, working at Condé Nast for over 20 years. Wackermann remains the youngest executive vice president in the company's history holding positions of senior vice president and publishing director of the print and digital divisions including Brides, Details, Bon Appétit, Glamour, Domino and W. During his tenure, Wackermann led Glamour Magazine to receive The National Magazine Awards 2010 Magazine of the Year. While overseeing Glamour, Wackermann co-created Glamour Reel Moments, a film series focused on women's empowerment with all female directors including Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Jessica Biel, Olivia Wilde and Rachel Weisz. In 2002, he was named Magazine Publisher of the Year by The Delaney Report.Wilhelmina Models Fetes 50th Anniversary at NYFW, by Andrew Nodell, in Women's Wear Daily; published September 12, 2017; retrieved September 27, 2017Wilhelmina's CEO Is Betting on 'Normal' Models and Nicki Minaj, by Dena Silver; at Observer.com; published September 6, 2017; retrieved September 27, 2017
In 2012, Wackermann wrote Flip the Script: How to Turn the Tables and Win in Business and Life which was published by Simon & Schuster's Free Press imprint. Publishers Weekly called it "a sugar-coated pep talk", continuing, "Sprinkled among platitudes about developing self-belief and displaying solid leadership qualities, Wackermann shares stories of colleagues and his own working-class beginnings, giving the book the feeling of an interview transcription rather than something more practical or utilitarian. [...] This falls short of being a substantive guide and ends up serving as the story of the author's own achievements."
Wackermann became chief executive officer of Wilhelmina Models in 2016.Mags and Mods with Wilhelmina's Bill Wackermann, by Eddie Roche; in Fashion Week Daily; published February 15, 2016; retrieved September 27, 2017 He subsequently founded the company's creative agency, Wilhelmina Studio and signed various artists to the company including Nicki Minaj, Kacy Hill, Leona Lewis, Shawn Mendes, Dustin Lance Black, Machine Gun Kelly, Niall Horan, Maren Morris, and Hopper Penn.Nicki Minaj Signs with a Major Modeling Agency: 'My Music … Inspires My Fashion', by Alexia Fernandez, at People; published March 28, 2017; retrieved September 27, 2017Nicki Minaj Signs to Modeling Agency, by Peter A. Berry, in XXL; published March 29, 2017; retrieved September 27, 2017
Under Wackermann's leadership, Wilhelmina streamlined and restructured its operations, achieving record revenue.
After four years as CEO of Wilhelmina, Wackermann did not renew his contract.
Personal life Wackermann holds a B.A. in English from Villanova University
References