Jennifer Salke steps down as Head of Amazon MGM Studios

Mike Hopkins, Amazon’s Head of Prime Video and MGM Studios, announced her departure in a memo to employees.

Salke plans to move into production, and her role will not be replaced, Hopkins said.

“We’ve decided to flatten our leadership structure a bit and not fill the head of studios role,” Hopkins wrote. “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 part of her exit, Salke has signed a first-look film and TV producing deal with Amazon, Hopkins wrote.

“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 said in a statement. “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.”

Salke joined Amazon Studios in 2018 from NBC Entertainment, replacing Roy Price.

Key productions during her time included Fallout and Reacher. The company also took on The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power during her tenure, which became the most expensive TV show ever made, and international spy series Citadel, widely considered an expensive flop.

Recent movies included the Dwayne Johnson-Chris Evans holiday action comedy Red One and the Anne Hathaway romantic dramedy The Idea of You.

Amazon acquired MGM Studios for $8.45 billion in 2021, and gained creative control over the Bond movie franchise from the Broccoli family last month.