Amazon MGM Studios Head Jen Salke to depart, internal memo says

(Reuters) - Jen Salke, head of Amazon's MGM Studios, will step down from her role to start a new production entity, according to an internal memo sent to employees by Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins, as seen by Reuters.

Salke, a former NBC Entertainment president, was known at Amazon for championing ambitious projects — such as the globe-trotting spy thriller, "Citadel" — that did not always connect with Amazon Prime Video's domestic audience.

She helmed the combined entity that emerged when Amazon closed its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM, the fabled moviemaker behind "Rocky" and James Bond film franchises.

Hopkins also said in his memo the studio will not be replacing her.

"We've decided to flatten our leadership structure a bit and not fill the head of studios role," he said.

"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."

Courtenay Valenti, head of film, and Vernon Sanders, head of TV, will now report directly to Hopkins, while Sue Kroll will continue to lead global marketing across both film and TV.

Salke has already signed a first-look deal across both film and TV with Amazon MGM Studios for her production entity, according to the memo.

Hopkins also referred to the changes in the studio behind shows such as "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" and "Reacher".

"We will be taking a couple of weeks to have thoughtful conversations with Jen's directs and others to finalize the ideal long-term structure for the Amazon MGM Studios organization as a whole, and we'll have more to share on that work soon."

(Reporting by Rishi Kant in Bengaluru and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Shreya Biswas)