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Amazon MGM Studios’ Head of Global Television Peter Friedlander has tweaked his original scheme for nan building of nan studio’s scripted cognition arsenic announced successful January.
Instead of 1 executive overseeing drama and drama, nan section is being divided into three, Drama, Comedy and Young Adult, each area reporting to him.
Veteran Amazon executive Kara Smith, who had been rumored for a promotion complete nan past fewer months, is being named Head of Drama, pinch nan different 2 positions TBD.
Leaving arsenic portion of nan reorg are Jen Chambers, Michael McDonald & Odetta Watkins.
Here is Friedlander’s memo conscionable sent retired internally:
Hi all,
I’m penning to stock an important update connected our tv organization’s evolution. After observant consideration, I’ve landed connected a flatter attack that prioritizes clarity and velocity to nurture creativity. As we proceed to build toward a genre-based model, I’m pleased to denote a caller imaginative activity building for Drama, Comedy, and Young Adult scripted TV.
Kara Smith will elevate arsenic Head of Drama, reporting to me. Kara has been an bonzer leader successful this statement for complete 7 years, and her heavy imaginative instincts, relationships crossed nan industry, and way grounds of processing standout bid make her nan perfect leader to build our Drama slate. In her tenure, Kara has been instrumental crossed bid including The Summer I Turned Pretty, Reacher, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as good arsenic upcoming titles Blade Runner 2099 and The Challenger. Her statement will beryllium system astir verticals, pinch executives shepherding bid from improvement done consequent seasons to optimize imaginative readying and talent relationships.
I will besides beryllium bringing connected a caller Head of Comedy arsenic good arsenic a Head of Young Adult, some reporting to me. Together pinch Kara Smith (Drama), Blair Fetter (Worldbuilding), Jenn Levy (Nonfiction), and Melissa Wolfe (Animation), this will complete our genre-based TV imaginative activity squad astatine Prime Video.
With these changes, Jen Chambers, Michael McDonald, and Odetta Watkins will beryllium departing Amazon. I want to return a infinitesimal to convey each of them for their contributions to this organization. Jen led our first look and wide woody squad — these deals will now beryllium managed by nan due genre-based verticals. Michael led nan wholly-owned improvement squad crossed comedy, drama, and young adult. Odetta led existent play series, overseeing shows from play 2 onward. Please subordinate maine successful wishing them each good successful their adjacent chapters.
While we’re mindful of nan individual effect of this transition, we stay committed to ensuring seamless continuity for our shows and nan talent down them. I admit this twelvemonth has brought a batch of alteration to our organization. I admit nan patience, professionalism, and committedness each of you has shown done this modulation — it hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’m assured we’re building thing beardown together, and I look guardant to nan activity ahead.
