Amazon Hires Three Netflix Business Affairs Execs As It Moves To Genre-Based Model

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon has instituted a significant shift in the way its film and TV business affairs division operates and has hired three executives from rival Netflix as part of the move.

The streamer has hired Diana Bernstein, Chris Carter and Matt Rea from Netflix, each of whom have worked there for over a decade.

It comes as it moves to a “genre-based BA model”. This means that business affairs will work directly with each “creative genre vertical” such as drama, comedy, nonfiction, animation, world-building and IP.

The changes follow earlier changes to its business affairs division that resulted in the departure of Dan Scharf as Head of Global Business Operations at Amazon MGM Studios. It essentially got rid of its centralized studios BA team and installed three teams embedded within TV, film and international originals.

Mandy Schaffer joined the company in May, also from Netflix, as Head of Business Affairs, Global TV, reporting to Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television, Amazon MGM Studios.

Bernstein becomes Head of BA, Drama, partnering with Kara Smith and her team. Carter is Head of BA, MGM and YA, partnering with Lindsay Sloane and Carina Walker, respectively. Rea joins as Head of BA, World-Building and Comedy, partnering with Blair Fetter and Andy Weil, respectively.

The trio, who were formerly Co-Heads of BA for the Drama division, will start the week of October 26.

Elsewhere, Dan Matusov will move into a role as Head of BA, Animation, partnering with Melissa Wolfe and her team.

Julia Shapiro becomes Head of BA, IP, partnering with Lauren O’Connor and her team. O’Connor will also be the BA team leader focused on first-look deals and overall pacts.

Ryan Singer will continue in his role as Head of BA, Nonfiction, partnering with Jenn Levy and her team, and Megan Shapiro will continue in the role she has held previously heading up its global TV deal-making with third-party studios, which is now refered to as Originals Studio Partnerships.

In a note sent to colleagues, seen by Deadline, Schaffer wrote, “As our Global TV slate continues to grow, we are moving to a genre-based BA model — aligning dedicated BA leadership to each creative genre vertical. This structure ensures that our deal-making, talent partnerships, and business strategy are embedded directly alongside our creative teams from development through execution.”

“This structure is designed to give our creative partners, talent community, and cross-functional teams a clear point of contact for each vertical,” she added. “I’m looking forward to this next chapter together.”