Jen Salke, the head of Amazon MGM Studios is tipping down from her function, the business validated.
Mike Hopkins, Amazon’s head of Prime Video and MGM Studios, made the news in a Thursday memorandum to staff members. Salke is leaving Amazon to relocate right into movie manufacturing, and her previous setting will certainly not be changed, Hopkins stated.
“We’ve decided to flatten our leadership structure a bit and not fill the head of studios role,” Hopkins composed. “In line with Amazon’s recent work to streamline reporting lines and accelerate decision making, we felt this was the best direction for our studio, which will now operate as distinct film and television studios.”
As component of her leave, Salke authorized a first-look movie and television making manage Amazon, Hopkins composed.
“As I’ve been considering my next chapter, I’ve always been searching for that moment where I was positive that our work had set up Amazon MGM Studios for even more success in the long term,” Salke stated in a declaration supplied byAmazon “When I look at the teams we’ve put in place, our amazing leaders, and the incredible slate of films and shows we’ve got in the pipeline, I realized now is that moment.”
Amazon touched Salke in 2018 to direct the Studios service after the ouster of her precursor Roy Price, that surrendered in the middle of claims that he took part in unwanted sexual advances and unacceptable actions towards a manufacturer.
The business’s venture right into initial television collection and movies was largely noted by specific niche and status web content like “Transparent,” “Manchester By the Sea” and “The Man in the High Castle.” Under Salke’s management, Amazon ended up being a larger gamer in the show business.
Salke pioneered jobs that made Amazon Studios acknowledgment, such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Reacher” and “Fallout.” The business likewise tackled “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” throughout her period, which ended up being one of the most pricey television program ever before made.
Amazon gotten movie workshop MGM Studios for $8.45 billion in 2021, providing it accessibility to a deep bench of copyright, consisting of the James Bond directory. Amazon got innovative control over the Bond flick franchise business from the Broccoli family members last month.
Below is Hopkins’ complete memorandum, which acquired.
Dear Team,
Since signing up with Amazon in 2018, Jen Salke has actually been a driving pressure in Amazon MGM Studios’ advancement right into what it is today: a first-rate manufacturer of prize-winning movies and collection checked out by numerous countless our consumers worldwide. Original movies and collection worked as the structure of Prime Video’s development right into among the globe’s leading enjoyment locations, and Jen’s management is an undeniable vehicle driver of the success we have actually had in this room for many years.
Having achieved even an exec, Jen has actually chosen that her following difficulty and phase will certainly get on the manufacturing side, with the purpose of getting back at better to the worldwide innovative area– which she’s been such an important participant of throughout her profession. As an outcome, Jen will certainly tip down from her function as Head of Amazon MGM Studios in order to begin a brand-new manufacturing entity, and we’re so delighted that she’ll remain to make her home right below on our great deal by means of a general first-look bargain throughout both movie and television.
In Jen’s words:
“Since I joined in 2018, we set out together to create a new type of global studio that fostered an environment for the world’s most creative talent to do their very best work. Along the way, we expanded internationally, built out a film business and hired and developed an incredible team. As I’ve been considering my next chapter, I’ve always been searching for that moment where I was positive that our work had set up Amazon MGM Studios for even more success in the long term. When I look at the teams we’ve put in place, our amazing leaders, and the incredible slate of films and shows we’ve got in the pipeline, I realized now is that moment. I’m looking forward to continuing doing what I love, cultivating talent, supporting their vision, and bringing compelling stories to audiences around the world.”
I can not claim adequate to share my many thanks to Jen for her collaboration. Starting with my individual Day 1 in 2020, her vision, creative thinking and market connections were (and are) so obvious that I believed our interact might be transformative not just to Amazon, however likewise to the market all at once. The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, Red One, Maxton Hall, The Idea of You,Mr & &Mrs Smith, Saltburn, Road House, Beast Games, Culpa Mia/Tuya and others talk with the hits under her management that have actually mixed social discussion and provided amazing narration to globally target markets … which listing covers just the previous 18 months. In enhancement, her management is confirmed by the elderly group she’s worked with and created … a group that I recognize will certainly tip up in a huge method moving forward.
Speaking of that group, we will certainly be taking a number of weeks to have thoughtful discussions with Jen’s routes and others to wrap up the excellent lasting framework for the Amazon MGM Studios company all at once, and we’ll have even more to share on that particular job quickly.
One point I did wish to call out is the truth that– complying with Jen’s choice to tip away– we have actually chosen to squash our management framework a little bit and not fill up the head of workshops function. In line with Amazon’s current job to simplify coverage lines and speed up choice production, we felt this was the very best instructions for our workshop, which will certainly currently run as unique movie and tv workshops. To that finish, Courtenay Valenti (Head of Film) and Vernon Sanders (Head of television) will certainly currently report straight to me, while Sue Kroll will certainly likewise proceed in her function leading worldwide advertising throughout both movie and television.
I’m greatly pleased with the energy our group at workshops has actually developed over previous 12-18 months, performing versus our calculated strategy and creating a great slate of initial programs and movies that place us for much more success in advance.
Please join me in once more saying thanks to Jen and desiring her the very best on this following experience … luckily, she will not be away and we still have much to do with each other.
-Mike
