David George was named to succeed Brent Montgomery as CEO of ITV America. Montgomery, whose production company, Leftfield Entertainment, was acquired by ITV in 2014, was named CEO of ITV America in 2015 and is leaving to create a new entertainment company, the production firm said. He will stay on for six months to advise George, who becomes CEO immediately. George had been the company president.
ITV America, of which Montgomery was the original architect, encompasses Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV and Outpost Entertainment as well as ITV Entertainment, High Noon Entertainment, Thinkfactory Media and other production partnerships.
Ed Simpson, who had been executive VP of business development and international at ITV America, will leave to join Montgomery in his new enterprise, the company said.
ITV Studios managing director Julian Bellamy said in a release: “I fully understand Brent’s decision; he’s an entrepreneur at heart and this move takes him back to what he loves doing most. I would like to thank Brent for being a fantastic leader of ITV America and I’m delighted he will be partnering with us in his new venture. Brent hands over a business in great shape with an exceptionally strong team behind it. It’s a testament to his leadership that we are able to appoint a new CEO from within the group.”
ITV America shows include Hell’s Kitchen on Fox; an upcoming reboot of Queer Eyefor the Straight Guy for Netflix; HGTV’s Fixer Upper, now in its final season; A&E’s The First 48; Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Pawn Stars, which Montgomery sold to History early on, in 2009.
