2 months ago
Sam Semon, Head of International Business Affairs for Amazon MGM Studios and a erstwhile executive astatine NBCUniversal and Gaumont Television, died March 17 aft battling an undisclosed illness. He was 60.
His family confirmed nan news connected societal media, penning successful part: “He fought valiantly and pinch unwavering religion to nan very end. We respect and emotion him truthful much, and he will everlastingly beryllium successful our hearts. … Sam was our Mr. Incredible, personification who ever believed successful america and loved america unconditionally.”
Born Sam J. Semon III successful Los Angeles successful 1965, he began his profession astatine CBS Entertainment and CBS Studios and had stints astatine respective companies earlier joining Amazon MGM Studios arsenic Head of International Business Affairs successful June 2020. Leading its scripted TV and movie business passim Europe, Africa, nan Nordics, Canada, Australia and Asian territories, he oversaw strategical speech and business solutions and specialized successful internationally produced original scripted contented for Amazon’s world integer platform.
Semon reported to Dan Scharf, Head of Global Operations and Business Affairs astatine Amazon MGM, who informed nan unit astir Semon’s passing. “I deliberation sometimes, if you get fortunate successful your career, you get nan correct occupation astatine nan nonstop correct constituent successful your life. And I do believe, for Sam, this past domiciled astatine Amazon was that puzzle portion for him,” Scharf wrote. “He loved his squad truthful much; I’d spot his eyes ray up erstwhile he talked astir a caller woody building they’d concocted, aliases really his young execs had grown into their roles and go leaders themselves. He knew intuitively really to negociate pinch that operation of celebrating achievements, while ever challenging and striving for much – that nan champion mentors have. He genuinely cared, and we each felt it.”
Before Amazon MGM, Semon had been EVP Business Affairs at NBCUniversal International Studios since early 2017. While there, he oversaw U.S. biz affairs for nan L.A.-based International Studios scripted team, Heyday Television US and Working Title Television US.
Prior to NBCU, Semon was EVP Business Strategy & Operations astatine Gaumont Television, overseeing bid licensing, agency package commissions, original improvement and accumulation and operations. During his profession he besides held senior-level posts astatine companies including FremantleMedia North America, Sony Pictures Television International, New Wave Entertainment, Cookie Jar Entertainment and and nan Disney/ABC Cable Group.
In his memo to staff, Scharf besides wrote: “In a world of truthful galore transactional relationships, Sam was a existent friend for much than 20 years. I’ll miss him teasing maine astir Seattle sports teams and my hairline; and I’ll miss his counsel and his decency.”
A ceremony of life was being planned, Semon’s family said.
