ITV confirms Montgomery as US chief

ITV has confirmed Leftfield Entertainment founder and CEO Brent Montgomery is taking over as CEO of ITV America, formerly ITV Studios US Group.

Brent Montgomery

The announcement backs up C21’s earlier exclusive report and means Montgomery will oversee ITV’s US group of businesses – the largest independent producer of non-scripted content in America.

ITV America produces more than 100 programmes, totaling more than 800 hours of content, working in partnership with 43 networks.

Under Montgomery’s leadership, all of ITV’s US businesses will become part of ITV America, including ITV Studios America, which will be rebranded as ITV Entertainment.

ITV’s other US businesses – Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Outpost Entertainment, Loud TV, Riot Creative, Thinkfactory Media, High Noon Entertainment, DiGa and Gurney Productions – will continue to produce under their current labels and with their existing management teams under the ITV America umbrella.

Under the new structure, Montgomery will report to Kevin Lygo, MD of ITV Studios, as will Philippe Maigret, president of ITV America’s scripted business. ITV America’s scripted business will be branded ITV Studios America.

As part of the restructuring, Lygo also announced ITV America’s core management team under Montgomery.

Adam Sher will serve as chief creative officer of ITV America, Chris Valentini becomes chief operating officer of ITV America and David George replaces Montgomery as CEO of Leftfield Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Ed Simpson moves from Leftfield Entertainment to become exec VP, business development and international at ITV America.

Montgomery, Valentini, George and Simpson all remain based in New York, with Sher continuing to operate out of LA.

The heads of all ITV America production companies will continue to lead their respective businesses, reporting to Montgomery. The head of the rebranded, LA-based ITV Entertainment will be named shortly, with Sher overseeing the current business.

As part of the changes announced today, ITV plc has acquired the remaining 20% of the Leftfield Entertainment group.

Montgomery added: “I’m humbled and beyond excited to join ITV at a time in our business when the integration of creativity, diversity, innovation and fiscal responsibility has never been more critical.”