Jennifer Salke is stepping down as the pinnacle of Amazon MGM studios. The announcement was made in an inside e mail to employees by Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins.
She is exiting the corporate with plans to start out a manufacturing outfit that already has an total first-look deal throughout each movie and TV on the studio. Amazon MGM is not going to be changing Salke, as a substitute having head of movie Courtenay Valenti and head of TV Vernon Sanders deal with their separate arms, each reporting in to Hokins.
Salke joined Amazon in 2018, after a hard-fought government search Roy Value, because the tech large turned leisure firm was scaling up its unique productions. Previous to Amazon, she served because the president of leisure at NBC and, earlier than that, had a protracted profession in tv with stints at twentieth Century Fox and Aaron Spelling Productions. Her credit included mega-hits like This Is Us and Glee.
Throughout her time at Amazon, the studio went by means of a collection of large adjustments, together with the acquisition of MGM in 2021 and, extra just lately, the acquisition of the artistic rights to James Bond franchise. She oversaw a movie slate that features business hits like Street Home and The Thought of You, together with buzzy awards titles like Saltburn. On the tv entrance, Salke oversaw the launch of the Lord of the Rings TV collection, Rings of Energy, thought of to be one the costliest tv collection ever made and had a decidedly combined reception from followers and critics. Hit Amazon collection made beneath Salke’s tenure embrace Fallout and Reacher.
“As I’ve been contemplating my subsequent chapter, I’ve at all times been trying to find that second the place I used to be optimistic that our work had arrange Amazon MGM Studios for much more success in the long run,” mentioned Salke, quoted in Hopkins’ e mail. “After I take a look at the groups we’ve put in place, our superb leaders, and the unimaginable slate of movies and reveals we’ve obtained within the pipeline, I spotted now’s that second.”
See the complete e mail from Hopkins under:
Expensive Group,
Since becoming a member of Amazon in 2018, Jen Salke has been a driving power in Amazon MGM Studios’ evolution into what it’s as we speak: a world-class producer of award-winning movies and collection seen by lots of of hundreds of thousands of our clients around the globe. Unique movies and collection served as the inspiration of Prime Video’s development into one of many world’s main leisure locations, and Jen’s management is an undisputed driver of the success we’ve had on this area through the years.
Having completed a lot as an government, Jen has determined that her subsequent problem and chapter shall be on the manufacturing facet, with the intention of getting even nearer to the worldwide artistic neighborhood — which she’s been such a significant member of over the course of her profession. Because of this, Jen will step down from her function as Head of Amazon MGM Studios to be able to begin a brand new manufacturing entity, and we’re so happy that she’ll proceed to make her house proper right here on our lot by way of an total first-look deal throughout each movie and TV.
In Jen’s phrases:
“Since I joined in 2018, we set out collectively to create a brand new kind of worldwide studio that fostered an setting for the world’s most artistic expertise to do their perfect work. Alongside the best way, we expanded internationally, constructed out a movie enterprise and employed and developed an unimaginable staff. As I’ve been contemplating my subsequent chapter, I’ve at all times been trying to find that second the place I used to be optimistic that our work had arrange Amazon MGM Studios for much more success in the long run. After I take a look at the groups we’ve put in place, our superb leaders, and the unimaginable slate of movies and reveals we’ve obtained within the pipeline, I spotted now’s that second. I’m trying ahead to persevering with doing what I really like, cultivating expertise, supporting their imaginative and prescient, and bringing compelling tales to audiences around the globe.”
I can’t say sufficient to specific my due to Jen for her partnership. Beginning with my private Day 1 in 2020, her imaginative and prescient, creativity and business relationships have been (and are) so obvious that I had little question our work collectively may very well be transformative not solely to Amazon, but in addition to the business as a complete. The Rings of Energy, Fallout, Reacher, Crimson One, Maxton Corridor, The Thought of You, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Saltburn, Street Home, Beast Video games, Culpa Mia/Tuya and others converse to the hits beneath her management which have stirred cultural dialog and delivered unimaginable storytelling to worldwide audiences…and that listing covers solely the previous 18 months. As well as, her management is evidenced by the senior staff she’s employed and developed…a staff that I do know will step up in a giant means going ahead.
Talking of that staff, we shall be taking a few weeks to have considerate conversations with Jen’s directs and others to finalize the perfect long-term construction for the Amazon MGM Studios group as a complete, and we’ll have extra to share on that work quickly.
One factor I did wish to name out is the truth that – following Jen’s determination to step away – we’ve determined to flatten our management construction a bit and never fill the pinnacle of studios function. Consistent with Amazon’s current work to streamline reporting strains and speed up determination making, we felt this was the most effective route for our studio, which can now function as distinct movie and tv studios. To that finish, Courtenay Valenti (Head of Movie) and Vernon Sanders (Head of TV) will now report on to me, whereas Sue Kroll may also proceed in her function main international advertising and marketing throughout each movie and TV.
I’m immensely happy with the momentum our staff at studios has constructed over previous 12-18 months, executing in opposition to our strategic plan and creating a unbelievable slate of unique reveals and movies that place us for much more success forward.
Please be a part of me in as soon as once more thanking Jen and wishing her the most effective on this subsequent journey…fortunately, she received’t be distant and we nonetheless have a lot to do collectively.
-Mike
