Kevin Dunn reportedly gives notice to WWE

Kevin Dunn -- one of the most familiar names in WWE front office history -- reportedly gave his notice over the past week.

The news was first reported by PWInsider. 

As the report goes, the company's executive producer and chief of global TV distribution informed WWE he was leaving during Christmas week. They did not indicate what his final day would be.

Dunn has been with WWE for more than 30 years after being hired by Vince McMahon in 1984. He was promoted to executive producer of all WWE programming in 1993 when Raw first launched.

According to the report, the impetus for Dunn's exit were changes made by TKO leadership post-merger. Since he has run production for so long, his preference was to not do things that were dictated to him.

"We are told this was not an issue of creative but two differing versions of how things should be run from a TV production perspective as WWE's new owner seeks to cut costs," the report stated.

TKO president Mark Shapiro recently talked about seeing an opportunity to make more cuts on the production end of things, making the following quip: 

"I have been through all the song and dance with every producer who treats every tape machine and camera like it’s a baby and doesn’t want to give it up. We’re here to improve our margins. We’re going to scrutinize every dollar on production for every single event, every single one of these telecasts, and improve our savings,"

No immediate successor has been tabbed as the report states it is likely several people will share the various roles Dunn currently fills.

"Of late, we are told that Dunn has stepped back a bit and was allowing others to spread their wings and handle more responsibilities in the Endeavor era, so that may have been in advance of Dunn knowing he was planning to exit," the report stated.