PEOPLE : 4 Promoted at Morris Agency

The traditionally conservative William Morris Agency got a youth injection on Thursday.

The Beverly Hills-based firm, which was shaken by defections from its film division earlier this year, announced that four executives aged 42 and under have been named to its 10-member board. In a prepared statement, Morris President Jerry Katzman said he looked to the new directors for “fresh perspective and energy.”

They are Bob Crestani, 37, head of West Coast television operations; Robert Gottlieb, 38, head of the New York literary department; Jim Griffin, 42, head of East Coast television operations, and Alan Kannof, 40, the New York-based chief operating officer.

The four replace Chairman Emeritus Lou Weiss and Executive Vice Presidents Roger H. Davis and Tony Fantozzi. Weiss will continue to oversee East Coast operations, and Davis and Fantozzi will remain as agents, Morris said. Retaining their board seats are Chairman Norman Brokaw, Chief Operating Officer Walter Zifkin, Katzman and Executive Vice Presidents Larry Auerbach, Leonard Hirsham and Owen Laster.

The Morris board, traditionally the preserve of older administrators, has been under review since early this year, when several film agents defected to other companies, taking with them such clients as Julia Roberts and Andie MacDowell. At the time, the agents complained that Morris’ directors were unresponsive and out of touch with modern-day Hollywood.

Some people within the industry were surprised that the company did not name anyone from the film division to the board. Katzman, named president in February, has expressed a commitment to restructuring the company.