Amazon Studios realigns its creative development structure

Amazon Studios has implemented a new organizational structure for its US and global television creative development team, which involves the creation of three teams shepherding programming across SVOD, AVOD and FAST channels, which will be under Head of Television, Vernon Sanders.

“As we continue to grow and scale, we must evolve to consistently deliver the entertaining content our broad customer base craves. I am pleased to share with you a new US/Global TV Creative Development organizational structure that is designed to generate multiple, specialized pipelines of original content for our SVOD, AVOD and FAST customers,”  Sanders said in an internal memo.

“As part of this new approach, we will now have multiple, distinct, creative development teams each managed by highly talented executives who will join me in leading a world class global TV organization for Amazon Studios,”  Sanders added.

The three creative development teams will be led by Laura Lancaster, Nick Pepper and Lauren Anderson, who all are adding new responsibilities while reporting to Sanders, as well as the split of developing scripted content for Prime Video into projects produced solely by Amazon Studios and those coming from outside studios as co-productions.

Most recently Head of Series, Lancaster will take on an expanded role as Head of US SVOD TV Development and Series – Co-Productions. She will oversee all co-production original content in partnership with outside studios and will continue to lead the series team that oversees the streamer’s current shows through their life cycle.

For Sanders, this restructuring represents its first move as solo Head of TV, a position he took on October when Albert Cheng became a full-time COO. It also comes on the heels of Marc Resteghini stepping down as US/Global Head of Development, segueing into a producing deal with Amazon Studios.

Meanwhile, Pepper, most recently Head of Creative Content, will take on new responsibilities as Head of US SVOD TV Development and Series – Wholly Owned, overseeing all Amazon Studios internal development of whole owned original SVOD TV content. His team also will continue to focus on securing big, global IP.

Lastly, Anderson, Head of AVOD Programming and Studios Unscripted across US Prime Video and Amazon Freevee, will add an oversight of areas Amazon Studios has been looking to ramp up: young adult, faith-based and family. She and her team will continue to manage originals development and content acquisition for Freevee as well as lead studios-based 1P and exclusive programming for Amazon’s FAST/linear business. She also oversees the development of all unscripted content for Amazon Studios for Prime Video, Freevee, and FAST/linear.

“We are extremely fortunate to have this group of dynamic leaders guide Amazon Studios towards achieving our ambitious goals. While we believe this is the structure to best serve our future, we also know this transition will take time to ensure we have the best experience for and relationships with our creative partners,”  Sanders concluded.