Ed Simpson is chief strategy officer for Wheelhouse Entertainment, overseeing all strategic planning and business development across all divisions of the content and media group, which focuses on high-profile content and talent around which it creates and builds “360” businesses.

Prior to Wheelhouse, Simpson was executive vice president, business development & international at ITV America, in charge of business development, corporate strategy and international. He also oversaw the group’s branded entertainment initiatives, and was responsible for monetizing existing rights and establishing new revenue streams – including the high-profile Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, which opened earlier this year at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a deal Simpson brokered based on the long running, ITV Entertainment-produced hit series.

Prior to ITV America, Simpson was senior vice president, business development & international at Leftfield Entertainment, acquired by ITV in 2014; he transitioned to ITV America in 2015. He joined Leftfield Pictures in 2012, focusing on mergers and acquisitions activity and playing a major role in Leftfield’s growth strategy. During his tenure at Leftfield and ITV America, he closed a series of local format production deals for hit shows Pawn Stars and Alone, and spearheaded the migration of various ITV formats, such as The Job Interview, Spotless, Four Weddings, and Big Star Little Star for production in the US. He has served as showrunner at RDF USA (the US arm of UK-based RDF Media), with credits including Wife Swap for ABC. He was also executive producer of development for BBC New York, and was a showrunner for production company Left/Right. 

Speaking on: Executive Insights: Ed Simpson, Wheelhouse Entertainment