Amazon is restructuring the studio’s business affairs team. The change, which is resulting in the departure of Dan Scharf as Head of Global Business Operations at Amazon MGM Studios, was revealed internally by Courtenay Valenti, Head of Film, Amazon MGM Studios, Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and Nicole Clemens, Head of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios.

“In line with the moves we’ve made over the past year to create three distinct studio operations, we will no longer operate with a centralized studios BA team, and instead move forward with three teams, each embedded within our Film, TV and International Originals studios, respectively,” the trio wrote in a join memo, which you can read below. “The three of us are confident it will streamline our dealmaking, reduce some layers, and more closely align our BA teams with the divisions they serve.”

Valenti, Friedlander and Clemens are expected to share details on their groups’ business teams soon.

Since joining Amazon Studios in 2014, Scharf has spearheaded negotiations for Amazon Studios’ biggest deals, including Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, Coming 2 America, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In 2022, Scharf, previously VP and global head of business affairs, was promoted to his current role, adding oversight of production, studio operations, casting, and studios music.

Here is the memo:

On behalf of Peter Friedlander and Nicole Clemens, I wanted to share the news that we are making a change in the structure of our studio’s business affairs team. In line with the moves we’ve made over the past year to create three distinct studio operations, we will no longer operate with a centralized studios BA team, and instead move forward with three teams, each embedded within our Film, TV and International Originals studios, respectively. The three of us are confident it will streamline our dealmaking, reduce some layers, and more closely align our BA teams with the divisions they serve.

In conjunction with this change, Dan Scharf, who has for many years overseen our centralized business affairs team and a number of other functions, is leaving Amazon. Dan joined Amazon in 2014 and has been a foundational member of our leadership team at studios, helping grow the group from the 40 team members he had on Day 1 in Sherman Oaks and contributing to more talent and content deals than we could ever list in a single note. I know you’ll all join me in wishing Dan the very best in his next chapter and thank him for the incredible commitment he’s made to Amazon over the years.

Each of us will soon share more details on the new structure with our groups. Please reach out to any of us with specific questions on how this change may affect how our teams collaborate going forward.

Thanks,
Courtenay, Peter & Nicole