Montgomery names Spoke’s leadership team

Brent Montgomery, ITV America’s former CEO, has named the team he will work with to lead Spoke Studios, the first production label for his new venture Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Montgomery departed from ITV this January and announced the launch of his media and marketing business, Wheelhouse, shortly after.

Under the Wheelhouse umbrella, Spoke was launched in partnership with ITV America.

The leadership team for Spoke will now include Will Nothacker and Joe Weinstock as co-presidents for the company’s East and West Coast offices.

The duo will report dually to Montgomery and Wheelhouse chief strategy officer Ed Simpson. The team will work closely with ITV America CEO David George to “assure a smooth, coordinated transition period”, according to the company.

Also joining Spoke are vice president of development Justin Comins, and director of development Gardner Reed. Comins, who is based on the West Coast, will report to Weinstock and Reed, based on the East, will report to Nothacker.

Nothacker, based in New York, joins Spoke from ITV America where he was creative director for ITV Creative. He was also an early employee of Leftfield Pictures, Montgomery’s first production company that he later sold to ITV.

Weinstock, based in LA, also comes to the production company from Leftfield, where he served as senior vice president of development. He was previously senior director of development at Discovery Channel and vice president of production and development at Gurney Productions.

Montgomery said: “Building a new creative entity from the ground up requires a team of dedicated out-of-the-box thinkers whose talent is matched by their initiative and desire to do something different – it is not for the faint of heart.

“I am extremely eager, once again, to be on the creative front lines, working closely with Will and Joe whose drive and creativity make them ideal to lead Spoke Studios on both coasts.

“In concert with ITV America, our best-in-class production partner, we will focus development on fewer projects that are bigger and bolder in scope, while aligning ourselves with A-list talent, and those we believe soon will be. Ed Simpson and I could not be more proud of the Spoke Studios team, and can’t wait to share our unique creative with the marketplace.”