Former ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery has set the top executive team for Spoke Studios, the production label for his recently announced Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Will Nothacker and Joe Weinstock have been named co-presidents of Spoke Studios and will partner in running the company from Spoke Studios’ East and West Coast offices. Also joining Spoke Studios are Vice President of Development Justin Comins, and Director of Development Gardner Reed. All are former executives with Montgomery’s first production company, Leftfield Pictures, which  became part of Leftfield Entertainment in 2013 and was acquired by ITV in 2014.

New York-based Nothacker was one of the earliest development executives hired at Leftfield Pictures. He joins Spoke Studios from his most recent post as creative director at ITV Creative, the in-house production infrastructure of ITV America. During his tenure, Nothacker developed more than 30 series, including History’s Alone and Bravo’s Bethenny & Fredrik, and was integral to launching numerous celebrity-branded production deals, developing projects with John Cena, Michael Strahan, La La Anthony, Lara Spencer, Bethenny Frankel and others.

Weinstock, based in Spoke Studios’ Los Angeles offices, previously served as SVP of development at Leftfield Pictures, where he developed such series as Blue Collar Backers and Carspotting for Discovery, The Book of John Gray for OWN and lauded National Geographic special Billy the Kid: New Evidence. He previously was senior director of development at Discovery Channel, and vice president of production & development at Gurney Productions, where he served as co-executive producer on numerous series including A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Syfy’s Hollywood Treasure.Weinstock also spent five years at Spike TV (now Paramount Network).

Nothacker and Weinstock report dually to Montgomery and Wheelhouse Entertainment Chief Strategy Officer Ed Simpson. The team will work closely with ITV America CEO David George to assure a smooth, coordinated transition period.

Comins served for two years as director of development at Leftfield Pictures, working on a versatile slate of projects including Tackle My Ride for NFL network, with other producer and director credits including Fox’s American Idol, and A&E’s Barter Kingsand Extreme Builds. Reed, with Leftfield Pictures for four years, was most recently manager of development, also working on The Book of John and Bethenny & Fredrik,an upcoming series for FYI, and numerous projects across ITV America’s celebrity-branded productions, including La La Anthony’s LaLaLand. He previously worked at Sirens Media in production and post-production.

Comins, who is based on the West Coast, reports to Weinstock; Reed, based on the East Coast, reports to Nothacker.

Said Montgomery, “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.”

HISTORY® presents an original documentary special, “Detroit: Comeback City,” which recounts the saga of the rise, fall and rebirth of Detroit through the iconic Michigan Central Station. The special premieres Sunday, July 1 at 9pm ET/PT.

Narrated by Academy Award®-winner and Detroit native JK Simmons, the film chronicles how Detroit went from the engine of American capitalism to a city of ruins that is now on the cusp of an exciting rebirth. The story of the city is told by real DETROITERS who recount the stories of their relatives who helped build the city and the country. Among the interview subjects are Alice Cooper, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winner Dr. Heather Ann Thompson, Bill Ford and NASA Astronaut Jerry Linenger.

From Henry Ford’s automated assembly lines that turned Detroit into a wheelhouse of innovation to the factories that made the city WW2’s arsenal of democracy, we will hear from those who found freedom and prosperity in the Motor City, including those who fled racism in the South to build a new life, and those who lived through the city’s 1967 riots and the city’s eventual downturn – leading to Detroit’s painful filing for bankruptcy in 2013.

The anchor of the story is the iconic Michigan Central Station (MCS). Designed by Warren & Wetmore and Reed and Stem, the firms that designed New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, MCS was built in the early 20th Century to announce Detroit’s dream for the future. The station was an emblem of Detroit’s innovative power, but after six decades it was shut down and abandoned, a painful symbol of the city’s demise.

Ford Motor Company has purchased Michigan Central Station, and recently announced plans to transform the building into an innovation hub.

“Part of History’s mission is to not just tell stories of the past, but capture history as it unfolds,” said Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President of Programming, HISTORY. “Working together with organizations like Ford Motor Company, we are able to breathe new life into the past by working together to save our most precious landmarks for future generations.”

“Detroit: Comeback City” is produced by Nutopia and Spoke Entertainment. Jane Root is Executive Producers for Nutopia. Brent Montgomery is Executive Producer for Spoke Studios. David Tackel, Mark Truby and Big Sean also serve as Executive Producers. Eli Lehrer and Kristen Burns are Executive Producers for HISTORY.

About HISTORY®
HISTORY®, now reaching more than 96 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of signature series including The Curse of Oak Island, Forged in Fire, Alone, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, as well as the hit drama series VIKINGS and SIX. The HISTORY website is located at history.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/history and Facebook atfacebook.com/history.

Spoke Studios, the first production label from former ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery’s new company Wheelhouse Entertainment, has appointed two former ITV America execs.

Will Nothacker and Joe Weinstock have been named Spoke Studios’ co-presidents, running the factual-focused company from its New York and Los Angeles offices respectively.

Nothacker was previously creative director at ITV Creative, ITV America’s in-house production arm, working across the firm’s prodcos and developing more than 30 series including Bethenny & Fredrik for Bravo and History’s Alone.

Prior to that he worked at Montgomery’s first production outfit Leftfield Pictures, which became part of Leftfield Entertainment, which was acquired by ITV Studios-owned ITV America in 2014.

Weinstock joins Spoke from Leftfield Pictures where he was senior VP of development. Since moving to Leftfield in 2015, Weinstock developed numerous series including Blue Collar Backers and Carspotting for Discovery, The Book of John Gray for OWN and National Geographic special Billy the Kid: New Evidence.

Before joining the ITV America fold, he was senior director of development at Discovery Channel, VP of production and development at Gurney Productions and senior director at Paramount Network (fka Spike TV).

Additionally, ITV-backed Spoke Studios has appointed Justin Comins and Gardner Reed as VP and director of development respectively. Comins and Reed both previously worked at Leftfield Pictures in directorial and management roles in development.

“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,” said Montgomery.

“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.”

Montgomery unveiled Wheelhouse Entertainment at the end of January having stepped down from his role at ITV America days earlier.

ITV America, which has since restructured its senior team to replace Montgomery, has struck a production partnership with Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Former ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery has set the top executive team for Spoke Studios, the production label for his recently announced Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Will Nothacker and Joe Weinstock have been named co-presidents of Spoke Studios and will partner in running the company from Spoke Studios’ East and West Coast offices. Also joining Spoke Studios are Vice President of Development Justin Comins, and Director of Development Gardner Reed. All are former executives with Montgomery’s first production company, Leftfield Pictures, which  became part of Leftfield Entertainment in 2013 and was acquired by ITV in 2014.

New York-based Nothacker was one of the earliest development executives hired at Leftfield Pictures. He joins Spoke Studios from his most recent post as creative director at ITV Creative, the in-house production infrastructure of ITV America. During his tenure, Nothacker developed more than 30 series, including History’s Alone and Bravo’s Bethenny & Fredrik, and was integral to launching numerous celebrity-branded production deals, developing projects with John Cena, Michael Strahan, La La Anthony, Lara Spencer, Bethenny Frankel and others.

Weinstock, based in Spoke Studios’ Los Angeles offices, previously served as SVP of development at Leftfield Pictures, where he developed such series as Blue Collar Backers and Carspotting for Discovery, The Book of John Gray for OWN and lauded National Geographic special Billy the Kid: New Evidence. He previously was senior director of development at Discovery Channel, and vice president of production & development at Gurney Productions, where he served as co-executive producer on numerous series including A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Syfy’s Hollywood Treasure.Weinstock also spent five years at Spike TV (now Paramount Network).

Nothacker and Weinstock report dually to Montgomery and Wheelhouse Entertainment Chief Strategy Officer Ed Simpson. The team will work closely with ITV America CEO David George to assure a smooth, coordinated transition period.

Comins served for two years as director of development at Leftfield Pictures, working on a versatile slate of projects including Tackle My Ride for NFL network, with other producer and director credits including Fox’s American Idol, and A&E’s Barter Kingsand Extreme Builds. Reed, with Leftfield Pictures for four years, was most recently manager of development, also working on The Book of John and Bethenny & Fredrik,an upcoming series for FYI, and numerous projects across ITV America’s celebrity-branded productions, including La La Anthony’s LaLaLand. He previously worked at Sirens Media in production and post-production.

Comins, who is based on the West Coast, reports to Weinstock; Reed, based on the East Coast, reports to Nothacker.

Said Montgomery, “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.”

Former ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery has set the top executive team for Spoke Studios, the production label for his recently announced Wheelhouse Entertainment.

Will Nothacker and Joe Weinstock have been named co-presidents of Spoke Studios and will partner in running the company from Spoke Studios’ East and West Coast offices. Also joining Spoke Studios are Vice President of Development Justin Comins, and Director of Development Gardner Reed. All are former executives with Montgomery’s first production company, Leftfield Pictures, which  became part of Leftfield Entertainment in 2013 and was acquired by ITV in 2014.

New York-based Nothacker was one of the earliest development executives hired at Leftfield Pictures. He joins Spoke Studios from his most recent post as creative director at ITV Creative, the in-house production infrastructure of ITV America. During his tenure, Nothacker developed more than 30 series, including History’s Alone and Bravo’s Bethenny & Fredrik, and was integral to launching numerous celebrity-branded production deals, developing projects with John Cena, Michael Strahan, La La Anthony, Lara Spencer, Bethenny Frankel and others.

Weinstock, based in Spoke Studios’ Los Angeles offices, previously served as SVP of development at Leftfield Pictures, where he developed such series as Blue Collar Backers and Carspotting for Discovery, The Book of John Gray for OWN and lauded National Geographic special Billy the Kid: New Evidence. He previously was senior director of development at Discovery Channel, and vice president of production & development at Gurney Productions, where he served as co-executive producer on numerous series including A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Syfy’s Hollywood Treasure.Weinstock also spent five years at Spike TV (now Paramount Network).

Nothacker and Weinstock report dually to Montgomery and Wheelhouse Entertainment Chief Strategy Officer Ed Simpson. The team will work closely with ITV America CEO David George to assure a smooth, coordinated transition period.

Comins served for two years as director of development at Leftfield Pictures, working on a versatile slate of projects including Tackle My Ride for NFL network, with other producer and director credits including Fox’s American Idol, and A&E’s Barter Kingsand Extreme Builds. Reed, with Leftfield Pictures for four years, was most recently manager of development, also working on The Book of John and Bethenny & Fredrik,an upcoming series for FYI, and numerous projects across ITV America’s celebrity-branded productions, including La La Anthony’s LaLaLand. He previously worked at Sirens Media in production and post-production.

Comins, who is based on the West Coast, reports to Weinstock; Reed, based on the East Coast, reports to Nothacker.

Said Montgomery, “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.”