Jennifer Salke Exits Amazon MGM Studios to Produce

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As a gaming enthusiast, I’d put it like this: “Guess what? It looks like Jennifer Salke is moving on from her role leading Amazon MGM Studios. Word came through an internal memo from Mike Hopkins, boss of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.

She’s leaving the company to establish a production company that has already secured an all-encompassing first-look contract for both movies and television at the studio. At this point, Amazon MGM won’t be appointing someone to replace Salke. Instead, Courtenay Valenti, head of film, and Vernon Sanders, head of TV, will manage their respective divisions, both reporting directly to Hokins.

In 2018, Salke made her move to Amazon, following a thorough recruitment process initiated by Roy Price. As Amazon evolved from a tech company into a production powerhouse for original content, she stepped in to help with the expansion. Prior to joining Amazon, she held the position of president of entertainment at NBC and spent a significant part of her career working at 20th Century Fox and Aaron Spelling Productions. Her impressive portfolio includes popular shows such as “This Is Us” and “Glee”.

While working at Amazon, the studio underwent significant transformations, such as buying MGM in 2021 and acquiring the creative rights to the James Bond franchise more recently. She managed a movie lineup that included box office successes like “Road House” and “The Idea of You,” as well as buzzworthy award contenders like “Saltburn.” In television, Salke was responsible for launching the highly anticipated series “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” which is known to be one of the most expensive TV shows ever made. This production had a diverse response from both fans and critics. Notable Amazon series produced during her tenure include “Fallout” and “Reacher.

In his contemplation about the future, Salke mentioned that he had been eagerly seeking a time when it was undeniably clear that Amazon MGM Studios was poised for continued prosperity in the long run. Upon examining the teams we’ve established, our outstanding leaders, and the exceptional collection of films and shows we have coming up, he now believes this moment has arrived.

See the full email from Hopkins below:

Dear Team,

Ever since joining Amazon in 2018, Jen Salke has been instrumental in transforming Amazon MGM Studios into a globally renowned studio that creates critically acclaimed films and series enjoyed by hundreds of millions of our customers worldwide. The original content produced under her leadership significantly contributed to the expansion of Prime Video into a major player in the global entertainment industry. Her exceptional leadership plays a crucial role in our success in this field.

After achieving great success as an executive, Jen has chosen to embark on a new adventure in the realm of production. Her ambition is to forge an even stronger connection with the international creative community, a group she has significantly contributed to throughout her career. Consequently, Jen will relinquish her position as Head of Amazon MGM Studios to establish a new production company. We’re thrilled that she’ll remain part of our team, with an exclusive first-look deal for both film and television projects here on our lot.

In Jen’s words:

Ever since 2018, our goal was to establish a unique global studio where exceptional creative minds could thrive and produce outstanding work. In this journey, we extended our reach internationally, developed a film division, and assembled an extraordinary team. As I pondered my future, I sought the assurance that Amazon MGM Studios would continue to prosper over time. Upon observing the teams we’ve built, the exceptional leaders we have, and the fantastic lineup of films and shows in the works, I believe now is the ideal moment for our long-term success. I am excited about continuing my passion – nurturing talent, backing their visions, and sharing captivating stories with audiences worldwide.

I am utterly grateful for Jen’s collaboration. From my very first day in 2020, it was evident that her insight, ingenuity, and industry connections would significantly impact our joint endeavors, not just Amazon, but the whole industry. The successes of projects like 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 many others in the past 18 months demonstrate her ability to drive cultural discussions and deliver top-notch storytelling globally. Moreover, her leadership skills are evident in the talented team she’s assembled and nurtured, a team I am confident will make substantial contributions in the future.

Regarding that team, we’re planning to spend a couple of weeks discussing thoroughly with Jen’s subordinates and other key players to establish the optimal long-term organizational setup for Amazon MGM Studios. We’ll be sharing updates on our progress shortly.

One key point I’d like to highlight is that, after Jen’s departure, we have chosen to make some adjustments to our leadership structure. Specifically, we won’t be filling the Head of Studios position anymore. This change aligns with Amazon’s current efforts to simplify reporting lines and quicken decision-making processes. Our studio will now function as separate film and television studios. In this new setup, Courtenay Valenti (Head of Film) and Vernon Sanders (Head of TV) will report directly to me. Additionally, Sue Kroll will carry on with her responsibilities as she leads global marketing for both film and television productions.

I’m incredibly proud of the progress my team at the studios has made over the last year and a half. We’ve been working diligently to achieve our strategic goals and have produced an exceptional lineup of unique shows and movies, setting us up for even greater victories in the future.

Let’s express our gratitude to Jen once more and send her our warmest wishes for her upcoming journey… fortunately, she’ll remain close by, and there are many more projects ahead that we’ll work on together.

-Mike

More to come.

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2025-03-28 00:54