Amazon Streaming Leadership Changes

Jennifer Salke Departs Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon revealed this week that Jennifer Salke is relinquishing her position as the head of Amazon MGM Studios. This change in leadership may signal underlying concerns regarding the company's streaming approach in recent years.

Leadership Restructuring

Mike Hopkins, Salke’s superior and the head of Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, commended her contributions in a communication to staff. He framed her departure as an opportunity to streamline the organizational hierarchy – a pattern observed in recent tech industry workforce adjustments.

Specifically, Amazon has no plans to replace Salke directly. Instead, the leaders of its film and television studios will now report directly to Hopkins.

Challenges and Disappointments

Reports surrounding Salke’s exit emphasize the difficulties and setbacks Amazon has faced in its streaming endeavors during her tenure. Salke, formerly an executive at NBC, joined Amazon Studios in 2018 with the goal of expanding beyond critically acclaimed productions into more broadly appealing content.

The streaming service has experienced successes with series such as “Reacher,” “Jack Ryan,” “Fallout,” and “The Boys.” A significant investment was also made in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” which premiered to record viewership for Amazon but has not achieved the widespread cultural impact anticipated given its reported budget exceeding $1 billion.

“Citadel” and Production Delays

“Citadel,” an espionage series intended to serve as the foundation for a connected universe of spinoffs including “Citadel: Diana” and “Citadel: Honey Bunny,” also faced challenges. Extensive reshoots reportedly made “Citadel” the second most expensive show ever produced, trailing only “The Rings of Power,” yet its reception was lackluster.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the second season of “Citadel” has been postponed from fall 2025 to spring 2026, and further spinoff projects are currently on hold.

James Bond Acquisition and Creative Control

Amazon has also encountered obstacles in initiating another James Bond film following its 2022 acquisition of MGM. Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who inherited creative control of the franchise from Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, have maintained a firm grip on the series.

A Wall Street Journal report in December indicated that Barbara Broccoli expressed dissatisfaction with Amazon, reportedly taking offense to Salke’s characterization of Bond as merely “content” during an initial meeting and allegedly describing the tech company’s team as “idiots.”

Internal Disputes

Sources suggest that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was angered by the Wall Street Journal article concerning Broccoli. He reportedly demanded, “I don’t care what it takes, get rid of her,” leading the company to compensate Wilson and Broccoli for relinquishing control.

Salke’s Future

Salke’s name was conspicuously absent from Amazon’s announcement regarding the Bond deal. However, she will be launching a new film and television production company with a first-look agreement with Amazon.