AEW, WWE Make Major Backstage Hires

AEW's executive shakeup continues with former WWE staffer signing on.

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AEW has appointed Kosha Irby as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Fightful Select broke the news that Irby was coming into AEW, potentially as COO, on Tuesday. This was later confirmed by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online.

Irby brings significant professional wrestling experience to the table, having previously worked as WWE's Regional Director of Live Events from 2011 to 2018. More recently, he has been working as Chief Marketing Officer for the Clemson University Athletic Department, having also worked as the Professional Bull Riders' CMO since departing WWE.

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Elsewhere, WWE has employed Lee Fitting as a de facto Kevin Dunn replacement, bringing him in as Head of Media and Production.

The market-leading promotion has released the following statement:

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STAMFORD, Conn., January 9, 2024 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that media industry veteran Lee Fitting has joined the company this week as Head of Media & Production.
“Lee is a phenomenal leader and executive known for work that generates both critical acclaim and mass appeal,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “Lee will be a tremendous addition to our stellar media and production team and play a key role in helping catapult WWE’s growth.”
Fitting brings more than two decades of production experience to WWE from ESPN, where he oversaw production for tentpole properties including Monday Night Football, College GameDay, the College Football Playoff, and many other properties within the Disney portfolio.
Distributed in 25 languages across 165 countries, WWE delivers new and live programming to fans 52 weeks a year. Its flagship shows, including Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and NXT; Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble; and award-winning slate of original programs reach more than one billion homes globally.
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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.