Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have assumed full leadership of the Royal Foundation, with the organization's president, Mandana Diani, stepping down after 18 months in December.
Diani, an entrepreneur and attorney, previously worked with fashion expert Rachel Zoe and co-founded the nonpartisan outfit I am a voter. While overseeing day-to-day operations at Archewell, Diani, of Iranian origin, became known as the right-hand woman of the Sussexes.
However, she departed after 18 months, joining a list of 13 senior positions that have seen resignations since 2018, including Archewell's Global press secretary and the chief of staff and director of Archewell.
The departure of Diani, announced by Ashley Hansen, Megan and Harry's Global press secretary, marks a planned and amicable transition. The Sussexes will now take on full leadership of the company, and there are no plans for a replacement.
Despite parting ways, Diani, as president of Archewell, played a crucial role in overseeing the couple's production and audio companies and the nonprofit foundation. She also contributed to the development and launch of Archetypes, the Spotify podcast hosted by Meghan. Diani's exit coincides with the upcoming release of a highly anticipated Netflix series about the couple.
While Megan and Harry issued a statement on the Israel-Palestine situation, it differed from the one released by Prince William and Princess Katherine. Diani, on the other hand, has taken a strong position on the conflict.
Having signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which represents prominent talents like George Clooney and Beyoncé, Diani is no longer affiliated with Megan. This move follows United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer's criticism of Megan's talent, stating that fame does not guarantee greatness. Megan, who had earlier signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME), might face challenges as revelations from Omid Scobie's book unfold.
Royal expert Angela Levin suggests that WME is concerned about potential repercussions for the Sussexes' rebrand, cautioning Megan to be careful due to increasing discontent with her actions.
