Company Town : Gary Gersh Quits Geffen; New Job at Capitol Rumored

In a move that has been widely expected, Gary Gersh resigned on Monday as a senior executive at Geffen and DGC Records, presumably to take over as president of Capitol Records.

Geffen President Ed Rosenblatt said in a statement that Gersh, whose contract was due to expire in December, was given an early release “to explore other avenues of interest.” No mention of Capitol was made, and a spokesman for Capitol’s parent, EMI, declined to comment on whether Gersh is headed for the company.

But Gersh is known to have been courted for the last few weeks by EMI Records Group North American Chairman Charles Koppelman. Music industry sources said they believe that the move to Capitol is a done deal, and is likely to be officially announced in about two weeks.

Gersh, 37, has worked at Geffen since 1985, adding such artists as Nirvana, Pat Metheny and Robbie Robertson to the company’s roster.

The move would be a homecoming for Gersh, who helped start the EMI America record label in 1977.

While at EMI, he signed such acts as David Bowie, the Stray Cats and John Waite. Gersh also produced Waite’s “Missing You” album.

FILM

Walt Disney Co. named Tom Staggs as vice president of strategic planing. A former investment banker with Morgan Stanley & Co., Staggs, 32, joined Disney in 1990 as strategic planning manager. Among the transactions he has been involved in was Disney’s recent acquisition of the Mighty Ducks, the new National Hockey League franchise that begins play this fall.

TELEVISION

Pat Fili-Krushel has been named president of ABC Daytime, effective June 8, 1993, it was announced Monday. She will report to Robert A. Iger, president of ABC Television Network Group.

In her new duties, Fili-Krushel, who was senior vice president of programming and production for Lifetime Television, will be responsible for all aspects of daytime programming on ABC.