Hopkins will take over the new role from February 24 and will report directly to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Amazon has appointed Sony Pictures TV Chairman Mike Hopkins to head its Prime Video and its movie and television studios. Hopkins will take over from Jeff Blackburn, a longtime Amazon executive who is on sabbatical.
In his new role, Hopkins will be tasked with helping Amazon keep its Prime members, which now number 150m globally, and continue to grow its video offerings and content.
He will oversee its Prime Video platform and Amazon Studios (encompassing its movie and TV production arms) as Senior Vice President. Worldwide Amazon Video Vice President Greg Hart and Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke will now report to Hopkins.
Hopkins joined Sony’s TV studio in late 2017 after spending four years as CEO of Hulu. He is credited with fortifying and streamlining Sony Pictures TV’s operations, which in recent years has merged its media networks, television distribution and home entertainment businesses.
In an internal memo obtained by CNBC, Blackburn said: “Mike comes to us with over 20 years of industry experience at Fox, Hulu, and Sony. He has an extensive track record as a global business leader in media, film and TV — negotiating landmark content and distribution agreements, running marketing operations, leading product/tech teams, and overseeing the production of breakthrough television content.”
