Amazon global media & entertainment chief Jeff Blackburn set to retire

Jeff Blackburn

Amazon veteran Jeff Blackburn, who is currently the retailer’s SVP of global media & entertainment, is to retire in January.

Blackburn has been with the US giant for more than 20 years and took up his most current remit, which covered oversight of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, last year following a sabbatical.

He also oversees podcast divisions including Wondery, as well as games, music, game streamer Twitch and Audible, reporting into Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy.

The appointment marked a return to Amazon for Blackburn, who had been with the company since 1998 and was central to Amazon’s streaming efforts until he took a year off in 2019.

His latest appointment was seen as a strategic move ahead of Jassy taking up the top job at Amazon, as the CEO had little experience of film and TV.

Blackburn’s arrival came a year after Amazon hired Sony Pictures Television ex-chairman and former Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins to oversee its video entertainment businesses.

He will lead Prime Video, Amazon Studios and MGM, which was recently brought into the entertainment structure under Jennifer Salke. She reports to Hopkins, who now reports directly to Jassy, as does Steve Boom, who leads on Audible, Twitch and Amazon’s games efforts, as well as his previous remit of music and podcasts.

In a note to staff, Jassy said: “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. Both Mike and Steve are excellent, deeply experienced leaders, and I look forward to working more with them both (and their teams).”