Amazon Hires Three Netflix Business Affairs Execs As It Moves To Genre-Based Model — SkimNews
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- Amazon has implemented a genre-based business affairs model, aligning dedicated deal-making leadership with creative verticals like drama, comedy, and animation.
- Diana Bernstein, Chris Carter, and Matt Rea join Amazon from Netflix, where each served over a decade, taking on leadership roles in Drama, MGM/YA, and World-Building/Comedy BA divisions.
- Mandy Schaffer joined Amazon in May from Netflix as Head of Business Affairs, Global TV, overseeing the structural shift and reporting to Peter Friedlander.
- Dan Matusov, Julia Shapiro, and Ryan Singer have been appointed to lead business affairs for Animation, IP, and Nonfiction, respectively, under the new framework.
- The trio from Netflix will begin their roles the week of October 26, replacing a centralized business affairs structure previously led by Dan Scharf, who departed earlier in the reorganization.
Why it matters: Amazon’s move fragments centralized oversight into genre-specific teams, embedding business strategy directly within creative units. This increases operational agility for talent deals but signals a break from traditional studio hierarchy, potentially accelerating development cycles across high-priority verticals like world-building and IP.
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