Amazon's top media executive reveals that he will be retiring in early 2023. The position will be overseen by two current executives and will be reporting directly to Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy.
(Photo : Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Jeff Blackburn, Amazon SVP of Media & Entertainment attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon Prime Video's "The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power" at The Culver Studios on August 15, 2022 in Culver City, California.
Plans to Retire in Early 2023
Amazon's Senior Vice President of Global Media and Entertainment, Jeff Blackburn, will be leaving the company soon as he reveals that he will be retiring from his position, Bloomberg confirmed in a report.
"Over the past year and a half, he's helped set us up for continued success in media and entertainment," Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said in a statement. He added, "Amazon wouldn't be the same company without Jeff, and I'd like to thank him for his many contributions to the company's success thus far and in the future."
Meanwhile, Mike Hopkins will continue in his current role as in charge of Prime Video, Amazon Studios, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Lead for Music and Podcasting Steve Boom will be taking command of Audible, Twitch, and other game-related businesses. Both will be reporting directly to Jassy.
Blackburn will still be staying in the company in the mean time and his retirement and adjustments for several positions will take effect on January 1, 2023. Based on a report from Variety, the date was chosen to ensure that the operations will be smooth even with the transition of having a vacant position in the executives.
Blackburn's Legacy
He held a number of high roles for over two decades in the company, as he joined Amazon in 1998. As per CNBC's report, he initiated a lot of work in the company including advertising, Amazon Studios, Prime Video service, and music business.
Blackburn also helped to lead the company into streaming and integrate MGM, a Hollywood movie studio, that has been acquired by the company during the pandemic worth $8.5 billion. This year, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power aired and he took an expensive bet (worth $1 billion) for this show to attract new and younger audiences.
"The last 18 months have been a thrill - working with all of you in GME and launching some of our biggest, boldest projects ever in entertainment and sports. But I've decided to spend 2023 differently, giving more time to family, and feel strongly this is the right decision for me," Blackburn stated.
Also Read: Amazon Acquires MGM; New Acquisition To Enhance Prime Video, Studios
Blackburn left Amazon before in February 2021 as he joined Bessemer Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley venture firm, where he worked for only five weeks. After that, he returned to the company in May 2021 as the Senior Vice President of the Global Media and Entertainment division.
He joins several executives to leave the company, following former CEO Jeff Bezos's departure last year and CEO of Worldwide Consumer Dave Clark.
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