Co-chairman is said to be leaving CAA

Lee Gabler, co-chairman and partner at Creative Artists Agency, is leaving the firm and could announce his departure as early as today, people familiar with the situation said.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the agency has not made a formal announcement. Gabler was traveling in Brazil and unavailable for comment.

Gabler has been increasingly critical of the agency’s growing size and large expenditures.

Arguably the most powerful talent agency in the business, CAA represents such clients as Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks.

Gabler, who ran the television division for 15 years, stepped back from his day-to-day responsibilities in 2005.

He was instrumental in capturing corporate clients such as Coca-Cola Co., selling “American Idol” to Fox and orchestrating David Letterman’s move from NBC to CBS.

A native New Yorker, Gabler began his career in the mailroom of Ashley Steiner Famous Artists in New York (later International Creative Management) more than 30 years ago.

He was promoted to vice president four years after becoming an agent in 1964. In 1970, Gabler transferred to ICM in California, where he worked as executive vice president and head of worldwide television. He joined CAA in 1983 and learned under Bill Haber, one of the agency’s founders.

lorenza.munoz@latimes.com