After months of speculation, Vernon Sanders has left Amazon MGM Studios where he was Head of Global TV. The news comes six months after the departure of his longtime boss, Jennifer Salke.
Sanders, who has been at Amazon for more than seven years, and Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, just shared the news with his staff separate memos.
Salke’s exit as Head of Amazon MGM raised questions about Sanders’ future. The initial indications were that he would stay put, and, in a recent restructuring, he expanded his turf.
But there has also been chatter in the background about Hopkins reaching out to top TV executives of the likes of Peter Friedlander, who recently left as Netflix head of UCAN Scripted Series, and Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content, who is under contract and not available.
Here is Sanders’ email:
Dear Colleagues,
After a little over seven years at Amazon MGM Studios, I am writing to share my decision to step down as Head of Global Television. Looking back to those early days, two things struck me immediately about Amazon: the exceptionally smart people and the vast, endless horizon of what’s possible within this company. Seven years later, those same attributes continue to thrive here.
Throughout my tenure, the company has repeatedly entrusted me with expanded responsibilities and new challenges. While I have been deeply honored by that growth in scope, I’ve found myself increasingly distant from what originally drew me to this industry – the day-to-day creative process of making television. Earlier this summer, I made the decision to return to those creative roots.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Jennifer Salke for inviting me to this company and being a role model for how to be bold, take risks and be human. To Mike Hopkins, your steadfast leadership has been instrumental in shaping Prime Video’s new vision and success. Thank you for your personal guidance and support, throughout this past year.
By nature, I’ve always been a people person, and the extraordinary talent here has made every day remarkable. The brilliant minds, the creative spirits, and the collaborative energy have been truly inspiring. Together, we’ve pushed boundaries and created something truly special.
We are all indebted to our incredible creators, talented actors, and tireless crews who bring our shows to life – they are the heart and soul of everything we do.
I leave with a profound sense of accomplishment and immense gratitude. The successes we’ve achieved together make me incredibly proud. I have absolute confidence in this team’s continued success and the exciting journey ahead. 2026 will be our best year yet! I have committed to ensuring a seamless transition over the next few weeks as he works through succession plans.
Thank you all for being part of this amazing chapter.
As my mom would say, it’s been a great ride.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Vernon