Rob Wade
Chief Executive Officer, FOX Entertainment
Rob Wade was named Chief Executive Officer of FOX Entertainment in October 2022. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s portfolio of business units, including FOX Network;
the in-house unscripted studio FOX Alternative Entertainment; scripted content creator FOX Entertainment Studios; Studio Ramsay Global, the production entity formed in partnership with Gordon Ramsay; the Emmy Award-winning animation house Bento Box Entertainment; the entertainment platform TMZ; independent studio MarVista Entertainment; and the worldwide content sales unit FOX Entertainment Global.
Prior to being named CEO, Wade was President, Alternative Entertainment and Specials of FOX Entertainment. In this role, he oversaw FOX’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate, as well as FAE. He joined FOX in March 2017.
Over the last 20 years, Wade has specialized in live, music, variety and reality programming. During his tenure at FOX, the network has launched several hit unscripted series, including the FAE-produced, culture-piercing singing competition – launching as primetime’s #1 unscripted entertainment series – The Masked Singer. Along with Studio Ramsay Global, FAE also produces Gordon Ramsay’s latest cooking competition series, Next Level Chef, the 2021-22 season’s #1 new entertainment program. Other FAE programs launched under Wade’s supervision include the music challenge series, and 2020-2021 season’s #1 new unscripted program, I Can See Your Voice, hosted and executive-produced by The Masked Singer panelist Ken Jeong; the guessing game-meets-baking competition Crime Scene Kitchen, hosted by Joel McHale (with Fly on the Wall Entertainment) and Summer 2021’s #1 new series; Name that Tune, featuring Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson; competition series Domino Masters, with Eric Stonestreet hosting; the dating program Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer; the singing competition and Fall 2021’s #1 new unscripted series Alter Ego, featuring Alanis Morissette, will.i.am, Nick Lachey, Grimes and Rocsi Diaz; and The Masked Dancer; hosted by Craig Robinson.
Following FOX Entertainment’s 2021 acquisition of TMZ, Wade was responsible for all TMZ-branded linear, digital and experiential assets, including its hit syndicated magazine programs, TMZ and TMZ Live.Wade also was responsible for all programs produced by Studio Ramsay Global, which develops, produces and distributes culinary and lifestyle programming for FOX, its ad-supported streaming platform, Tubi, and platforms worldwide.
Throughout the pandemic, Wade helped lead FOX’s programming pivot by producing and airing FOX Presents iHeart Living Room Concert for America, a benefit special hosted by Elton John on March 29, 2020, just days after production throughout the industry was shut down. It came together in approximately ten days and raised more than $15 Million. In the weeks after the shutdown, and under Wade’s leadership, FOX remotely produced two new shows, After the Mask and Celebrity Watch Party. Wade then oversaw production of The Masked Singer’s following seasons and the debut season of I Can See Your Voice, creatively incorporating an audience into both series during this unusual time.
Among the other FOX series Wade has launched are LEGO Masters, the 2019-20 season’s #1 new entertainment unscripted program among Adults 18-49; Ultimate Tag, co-hosted by NFL superstar sibling trio JJ, TJ and Derek Watt; Beat Shazam, hosted by Jamie Foxx; and Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Wade also oversaw the launch of FOX’S annual special New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square, which, in 2017, marked an all-time high for a FOX New Year’s special, averaging 8.5 million total viewers. He also spearheaded FAE’s production of FOX’s New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021, which was hosted by Ken Jeong and Joel McHale.
Prior to joining FOX, Wade served as the showrunner on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and was the head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide. He was an executive producer on FOX’s “The X Factor” and NBC’s “America's Got Talent,” and was Head of TV at SyCo Entertainment North America.
In addition to “Dancing with the Stars,” Wade has worked on a broad spectrum of successful series, including “Grease: You’re the One that I Want,” “Big Brother,” “Dog Eat Dog” and “I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.” He’s also developed shows and pilots for NBC, FOX, ITV, Univision, MTV, VH1, Channel 4 and the BBC.
Photo ©Joe Viles/FOX
Bio
Rob Wade was named Chief Executive Officer of FOX Entertainment in October 2022. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s portfolio of business units, including FOX Network;
the in-house unscripted studio FOX Alternative Entertainment; scripted content creator FOX Entertainment Studios; Studio Ramsay Global, the production entity formed in partnership with Gordon Ramsay; the Emmy Award-winning animation house Bento Box Entertainment; the entertainment platform TMZ; independent studio MarVista Entertainment; and the worldwide content sales unit FOX Entertainment Global.
Prior to being named CEO, Wade was President, Alternative Entertainment and Specials of FOX Entertainment. In this role, he oversaw FOX’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate, as well as FAE. He joined FOX in March 2017.
Over the last 20 years, Wade has specialized in live, music, variety and reality programming. During his tenure at FOX, the network has launched several hit unscripted series, including the FAE-produced, culture-piercing singing competition – launching as primetime’s #1 unscripted entertainment series – The Masked Singer. Along with Studio Ramsay Global, FAE also produces Gordon Ramsay’s latest cooking competition series, Next Level Chef, the 2021-22 season’s #1 new entertainment program. Other FAE programs launched under Wade’s supervision include the music challenge series, and 2020-2021 season’s #1 new unscripted program, I Can See Your Voice, hosted and executive-produced by The Masked Singer panelist Ken Jeong; the guessing game-meets-baking competition Crime Scene Kitchen, hosted by Joel McHale (with Fly on the Wall Entertainment) and Summer 2021’s #1 new series; Name that Tune, featuring Jane Krakowski and Randy Jackson; competition series Domino Masters, with Eric Stonestreet hosting; the dating program Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer; the singing competition and Fall 2021’s #1 new unscripted series Alter Ego, featuring Alanis Morissette, will.i.am, Nick Lachey, Grimes and Rocsi Diaz; and The Masked Dancer; hosted by Craig Robinson.
Following FOX Entertainment’s 2021 acquisition of TMZ, Wade was responsible for all TMZ-branded linear, digital and experiential assets, including its hit syndicated magazine programs, TMZ and TMZ Live.Wade also was responsible for all programs produced by Studio Ramsay Global, which develops, produces and distributes culinary and lifestyle programming for FOX, its ad-supported streaming platform, Tubi, and platforms worldwide.
Throughout the pandemic, Wade helped lead FOX’s programming pivot by producing and airing FOX Presents iHeart Living Room Concert for America, a benefit special hosted by Elton John on March 29, 2020, just days after production throughout the industry was shut down. It came together in approximately ten days and raised more than $15 Million. In the weeks after the shutdown, and under Wade’s leadership, FOX remotely produced two new shows, After the Mask and Celebrity Watch Party. Wade then oversaw production of The Masked Singer’s following seasons and the debut season of I Can See Your Voice, creatively incorporating an audience into both series during this unusual time.
Among the other FOX series Wade has launched are LEGO Masters, the 2019-20 season’s #1 new entertainment unscripted program among Adults 18-49; Ultimate Tag, co-hosted by NFL superstar sibling trio JJ, TJ and Derek Watt; Beat Shazam, hosted by Jamie Foxx; and Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Wade also oversaw the launch of FOX’S annual special New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square, which, in 2017, marked an all-time high for a FOX New Year’s special, averaging 8.5 million total viewers. He also spearheaded FAE’s production of FOX’s New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021, which was hosted by Ken Jeong and Joel McHale.
Prior to joining FOX, Wade served as the showrunner on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and was the head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide. He was an executive producer on FOX’s “The X Factor” and NBC’s “America's Got Talent,” and was Head of TV at SyCo Entertainment North America.
In addition to “Dancing with the Stars,” Wade has worked on a broad spectrum of successful series, including “Grease: You’re the One that I Want,” “Big Brother,” “Dog Eat Dog” and “I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.” He’s also developed shows and pilots for NBC, FOX, ITV, Univision, MTV, VH1, Channel 4 and the BBC.
Photo ©Joe Viles/FOX