Brent Montgomery is an American businessman who is CEO of Wheelhouse Entertainment, a media group he launched in 2018.[1][2] Under the Wheelhouse banner also is Spoke Studios,[3] the content arm of Wheelhouse Entertainment, which creates programming across a variety of platforms and genres.[4]
Montgomery also serves as strategic advisor to ITV America.[5] Montgomery was named CEO of ITV America in 2015 following the 2014 acquisition of his company, Leftfield Entertainment, for $360 million by UK-based, multi-national media company ITV.[6] Under Montgomery's leadership, in 2017 ITV America's revenue[7] increased by 33%.[8]
Montgomery began his television career working for TexasCBS affiliateKBTX, which subsequently paid for the majority of his tuition atTexas A&M.[9] He later moved to New York and worked onThe Bachelor,Wife Swap andBlind Date.[10]
Montgomery started his first production company, Leftfield Pictures, in 2002 with $10,000.[11] Leftfield Pictures initially shot wedding videos while developing its entertainment content and clientele, and eventually sold its first series,The Principal’s Office, in 2008.[10] Montgomery developed the concept for Leftfield Pictures’ flagship seriesPawn Stars while inLas Vegas for a bachelor party.[12] Struck by the number of pawn shops in the city, Montgomery set out to locate a shop with the right setting and staff around which to build a television series.[13][11] Ultimately, Montgomery negotiated a deal withGold & Silver Pawn Shop co-owner Rick Harrison, and pitched the show to theHistory Channel.[14] In 2009,Pawn Stars premiered on History as a top rated series for the network, highlighting the “hidden treasures” genre of programming.[15]
Montgomery grew Leftfield Pictures rapidly[16] with other series soon added to Leftfield's roster.[17] In addition toPawn Stars, other Leftfield Pictures series and Montgomery credits includeAlone,[18]American Restoration andCounting Cars for History;[10]American Grit forFox;[19]Bethenny & Fredrik for Bravo,[20] andNational Geographic Channel’s specialsBilly the Kid: The New Evidence (executive produced by Kevin Costner)[21] andBrain Surgery Live.[22]
In 2013, Montgomery established parent company Leftfield Entertainment (LFE), and assumed the role of CEO, in conjunction with acquiring production company Sirens Media.[23] He then launched additional production companies under the LFE umbrella – Loud TV[24] and Outpost Entertainment[25] – before selling 80% of the company for $360 million to ITV in 2014.[26] At the end of 2015, Montgomery completed a deal through which ITV acquired all of the Leftfield Entertainment group. As part of that process, he became CEO of newly formed production group ITV America,[17] encompassing original Leftfield Entertainment companies Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Outpost Entertainment, Loud TV; plus ITV Entertainment, Gurney Productions, High Noon Entertainment and Thinkfactory Media.[10] Collectively, they produce series including FOX'sThe Four: Battle for Stardom[27] andHell’s Kitchen; HGTV'sFixer Upper, Netflix'sQueer Eye[28] andGirls Incarcerated,[29] A&E'sDuck Dynasty andThe First 48,[30] History'sPawn Stars,Alone andForged in Fire.[31] Bravo'sThe Real Housewives of New Jersey,[32][33]
In January 2018, Montgomery founded Wheelhouse Entertainment and its production company Spoke Studios.[39] He currently serves as CEO of Wheelhouse Entertainment.
Montgomery was featured on the cover ofThe Hollywood Reporter on January 30, 2019, focusing on his new business, the Wheelhouse Group, and highlighting his contributions to reality TV.[40]
In June 2016, Montgomery was inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame as Producer Extraordinaire.[41]
In 2014 Montgomery became a founding member of the Non-Fiction Producers Association (NPA), the first professional body created to service the non-fiction TV business in the United States, and serves on its executive committee.[42] In 2017 the NPA merged with PactUS to create NPACT, on whose board and executive committee Montgomery also sits.[43] In 2018, he received NPACT's “Inspiration Award for Outstanding Achievement In Nonfiction[44]” as part of the organization's inaugural NPACT Impact Awards.
Montgomery is a member of Lincoln Center Corporate Fund's newly launched Media and Entertainment Council,[45] and a member of the Paley Media Council.[46]
