Breaking News: Chris Brearton is making a big move, stepping down from Amazon after 18 months in a new role. Brearton has been a key player at MGM since 2018, taking on various roles before his latest position overseeing Prime Video and Studios.
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, Brearton’s departure comes as Amazon Studios’ Jennifer Salke takes the reins at MGM. FilmmakerFocus has learned that Brearton, also chair of the board of directors at USA Swimming, is seeking new opportunities outside the company.
From April 15, Brearton’s duties will be shared among senior executives. MGM+ and MGM Television will now report to Kelly Day, Head of Prime Video International. Barry Poznik and the MGM Unscripted team will report to Brad Beale, Head of Global Content Licensing and Distribution. Ted Lim will now report to Salke in a new role overseeing global strategy and business development at Amazon MGM Studios.
This shift in responsibilities highlights the growth of Day and Beale within the company, showcasing their leadership and expertise.
Message from Mike Hopkins:
Team,
I’m excited to announce that Chris Brearton is embarking on a new chapter. His contributions have been invaluable, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Let’s continue to push boundaries and create exciting opportunities for our team and partners.that Chris Brearton has decided to leave Amazon to pursue a new opportunity outside the company. Chris has been an invaluable leader throughout the MGM acquisition process, and his tireless work to integrate MGM into our Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios family has been a vital piece of our work in building a unified business and – in doing so – create even more value for our creative partners, advertisers and – most important – our customers. I’m so grateful to Chris for his partnership, and there’s no doubt we all will miss him on both a personal and professional level. Effective this coming Monday, 4/15, oversight of Chris’ portfolio will be divided among several of our senior leaders as follows: MGM+ and MGM Television – led by Michael Wright and Josh McIvor; and Lindsey Sloane, respectively – will now report to Kelly Day. Barry Poznik and the MGM Unscripted team will now report to Brad Beale. Ted Lim, who has been running corporate strategy at MGM, will now report to Jen Salke in the newly-created role of Head of Global Strategy and Business Development, Amazon MGM Studios. Kelly, Brad and Jen will soon be sharing more details with their teams, and under their leadership I know these integrations will be executed as seamlessly and effectively as possible. Please join me in thanking Chris and wishing him the best on his next adventure – and in hoping our paths cross again! Best, Mike. Chris Brearton Note: To My MGM Family, It has been my great honor to work alongside each of you these many years at MGM. This storied studio has been a central part of my career DNA ever since I first walked into the Filmland building in Culver City in 1992 as a young CPA. I had no idea on that day what MGM would come to mean to me over the next 30+ years. But even before that day in 1992, MGM was a big part of my life. As a child, I vividly remember seeing Leo the MGM Lion roar for the first time on screen before watching The Good, The Bad and The Ugly with my father. Some years later, I was equally inspired by my introduction to the world of James Bond when I snuck into a screening of For Your Eyes Only. As I recall these moments from my youth, it feels truly surreal to now have the pleasure of working closely with pioneering producers and icons of the film industry such as Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, as well as Irwin Winkler and so many others. I want to thank Kevin Ulrich and the Board of Directors of MGM for their belief that I could transition from an advisor to a leader. I want to recognize the work of Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Jon Glickman, who came before me, and I will always be honored to have had the chance to lead MGM alongside Mark Burnett, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy. Despite unprecedented disruption in our industry, we built an incredible and dedicated team at MGM that simply would not be denied. Together, we re-invigorated this great studio as a home for story tellers. This success was demonstrated through the Lion’s robust and compelling film slate, the re-launch of Orion Pictures, the expansive prowess of television group that is responsible for producing beloved and award programs across nearly every network and platform, and the recent launch of MGM+, creating a global home for Leo and over a century of great entertainment. I want to thank Mike Hopkins and Amazon for recognizing our success and for seeing the potential of combining MGM with the passion and resources of Amazon. I owe a huge debt to the dedicated teams led by Matt Davidson, Lesley Freeman and Ted Lim, who helped us unify MGM with Amazon to ensure that the lion will roar for another hundred years. Finally, over the past two years, I have been able to witness Amazon become the new and prosperous home to much of the MGM family. I feel incredibly fortunate to have acted as a steward of the brand, and to have been a part of the team that shepherded this historic acquisition. Invigorated by our dynamic and evolving industry, it is time for me to look forward to my next challenge and to build once again. To that end, it is with immeasurable gratitude that I say farewell and wish you all the best. It has truly been the thrill of a lifetime. Ars Gratia Artis. Cheers, Chris Brearton. Jen Salke Note: Team, As Mike just shared the bittersweet news about Chris Brearton’s decision to leave the company, I wanted to follow up with more details for Amazon MGM Studios. In the last few years, Chris has been a wonderful.Colleague, partner, and friend, Chris has been an invaluable asset to our team. His enthusiasm and willingness to tackle any challenge have been truly inspiring. We will miss his presence as a thought partner and cheerleader for Studios and Prime Video. As we bid farewell to Chris, we wish him the best in his new endeavor.
But as one chapter ends, another begins. Effective this coming Monday, April 15, Ted Lim will be stepping into the role of Head of Strategy and Business Development for Amazon MGM Studios. Ted has already proven himself to be a valuable partner since the MGM acquisition, and I am excited to see him take on this new challenge. His leadership will be instrumental in overseeing various aspects of our business, and I have full confidence in his abilities.
In addition, we are thrilled to welcome Barry Poznick and the MGM Alternative team to Amazon MGM Studios. Barry’s track record of success in developing unscripted titles is impressive, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in his new role.
As we navigate these changes, I want to express my gratitude to Chris for his contributions and extend a warm welcome to Ted, Barry, and their teams. Join me in wishing them all the best as they embark on this new chapter with Amazon MGM Studios!
Jen
