Ed Simpson is chief strategy officer at multi-vertical media, marketing and investment enterprise Wheelhouse, overseeing strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and business development across all divisions of the company where content, celebrity, brands and capital come together to accelerate programming and business opportunities across platforms.

From its inception in 2018, Simpson has spearheaded Wheelhouse’s rise and expansion by launching new production labels including Spoke Studios, Kimmelot, Butternut, Wheelhouse UK and, most recently, Twist, and the group’s digital division, DNA. He has shepherded Wheelhouse’s deals with major talent such as renowned chef David Chang and Majordomo Media, its acquisitions, including production company Campfire Studios, and its investment into the digital and branded entertainment studio Portal A. In 2023, Simpson led Wheelhouse’s first outside capital raise with investment firm Alignment Growth.

Run by Founder and CEO Brent Montgomery, the Wheelhouse operating company includes Wheelhouse Entertainment, brand marketing division Wheelhouse Labs, digital and influencer division Wheelhouse DNA and investment arm Wheelhouse 360.

Simpson and Montgomery’s dynamic business collaboration and close personal friendship has endured for more than a decade; Simpson served 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) and co-orchestrated and led the strategic roll-out of Wheelhouse and the acceleration of its M&A and growth activities.

Prior to Wheelhouse, Simpson was EVP, business development, at ITV America, and before that was SVP, business development & international at Leftfield Entertainment (acquired by ITV in 2014). He joined Leftfield Pictures in 2012, focusing on M&A and leading the company’s growth strategy, including acquiring production company Sirens Media, and executing lucrative international format deals for hit series like Pawn Stars and Alone and, at ITV, licensing deals for the long-running series Hell’s Kitchen. 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: New revenue models in the Peak IP era