Harry styles splits with One direction's Management, joins azoff
oks like Harry Styles is following his former bandmate Zayn Malik in a different direction, away from the band that made him a household name. The One Direction singer has officially split from his longtime management team, Modest Management, and has signed with CAA’s Jeffrey Azoff, son of industry veteran Irving Azoff.
Modest confirmed the move in a statement provided to Billboard. "We wish Harry the very best. It has been a real pleasure working with him," said Modest execs Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee. "Harry is a total gentleman, and we know our good friend Jeffrey Azoff will look after him.
According to an earlier report in The Sun newspaper, Styles' new team is working on launching the artist’s solo career "by around this time next year." Whether that involves retaining Simon Cowell’s Syco Music as his U.K. label remains to be seen, though sources told the tabloid that "he wants to completely disassociate with [One Direction] and that includes any professional connection.