EXCLUSIVE: Stewart Talent is expanding its Los Angeles Commercial Department with the hire of Valerie Chiovetti. She is coming from embattled KMR Talent, where she spent the last 11 years, and is expected to bring a number of former clients with her to Stewart Talent. 

Chiovetti is one of several senior agents to leave KMR Talent, whose franchise with SAG-AFTRA was suspended on Friday following weeks of mounting problems with client payment delays.

She began her career with Abrams Artists Agency in 2001 as an assistant in the commercial department.  She was promoted to agent in 2003 where she repped talent for commercials and negotiated celebrity endorsement deals for ten years.

At Stewart Talent, she will be working alongside Mark Park, Head of the Commercial Department. 

“I’ve known Mark Park since my days as a Commercial Assistant and his in Casting, we came up together! So, I was honored when he reached out to discuss the opportunity to join him in the LA office,” said Chiovetti. “I’m beyond excited to help continue building what Mark has created with Stewart Talent. Now? We just need a catchy team nickname… I’m open to suggestions!”

Deadline reported in its recent KMR coverage that Chiovetti was working on her next move. Other KMR agents who have left in the last few days include fellow commercials department member, Jamie Hernandez, Head of Adult On-Camera Commercial, and talent agent Alicia Ruskin, Partner/SVP, who are opening their own shop, True Artists Agency; and Jed Abrahams who resigned Saturday as SVP and head of the agency’s New York office.