Nightlife impresario Brent Bolthouse, a key figure behind the success of L.A. hotspots including Hyde Lounge and Chef Michael Mina’s XIV restaurant, has left Sam Nazarian’s SBE Entertainment Group, confirmed to Style Section L.A. by Bolthouse’s rep.

SBE, which bought half of Bolthouse’s production business in 2005, is a major player in the city’s hospitality and nightlife projects, including the SLS Hotel, The Abbey and the Katsuya chain of Philippe Starck-designed sushi establishments.

The 39-year-old Bolthouse, in turn, provided creative direction and shepherded legions of the Hollywood elite (Reese Witherspoon, Jay Z, David and Victoria Beckham) that helped put each venue on the international pop culture map.

According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, SBE recently announced plans to open a second Hyde at L.A. Live and revamp Gladstone’s, the seaside tourist restaurant in Malibu.

Known by MTV viewers as Heidi’s former boss on The Hills, Bolthouse and longtime business partner Jenifer Rosero will continue to operate Bolthouse Productions as an independent entity. As event producers, their clients have included HBO, Vanity Fair, Prada and Mercedes-Benz. On September 18, the company furnished the pre-Emmys celebration for animated Fox hit Family Guy.

Calls to SBE were not immediately returned.

Story developing.

Photo: Brent Bolthouse with Heidi Montag courtesy of MTV