Ed Simpson is chief strategy officer at Wheelhouse, overseeing strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and business development across all divisions of the company. Established in 2018, Wheelhouse is a multi-vertical media, marketing and investment company where content, celebrity, brands and capital come together to accelerate programming and business opportunities across platforms. Its operating company encompasses Wheelhouse Entertainment, including an outpost in the UK; brand marketing division Wheelhouse Labs; digital-first and influencer division Wheelhouse DNA and investment arm Wheelhouse 360.

Run by Founder and CEO Brent Montgomery, in close partnership with Jimmy Kimmel, Wheelhouse serves as a “plug and play” media and entrepreneurial opportunity for its high-profile divisions and talent partnerships. 

Simpson and Montgomery’s dynamic business collaboration and close personal friendship has endured for more than a decade, with Simpson serving as the co-architect of the growth/acquisition plan for Montgomery’s first company, Leftfield Entertainment (one of the most lucrative transactions in industry history) as well as the strategic roll-out of Wheelhouse.

Since joining Wheelhouse at its inception in 2018, Simpson has spearheaded the company’s rise and expansion, including deals forged with Kimmelot (ABC’s Emmy-winning Live in Front of a Studio Audience; Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers); Campfire Studios (Emmy-winning WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn); and Wheelhouse’s production label Spoke Studios (Netflix’s Buying Beverly Hills). He was also instrumental in the creation and build-out of Wheelhouse DNA.

Prior to Wheelhouse, Simpson was executive vice president, business development & international at ITV America. Before that, he was senior vice president, business development & international at Leftfield Entertainment (acquired by ITV in 2014). He joined Leftfield Pictures in 2012, focusing on M&A and played a major role in Leftfield’s growth strategy, including the acquisition of Sirens Media and striking lucrative international format deals for hit series like Pawn Stars and Alone. Previously, Simpson served as showrunner at RDF USA, and as executive producer of development at BBC New York. He resides in Los Angeles.

Speaking on: Global Visions, International Insights