Amazon MGM Studios Names New Heads of TV and Film Business Affairs

Amazon MGM Studios has appointed Mandy Schaffer as head of television business affairs and Craig Muhlrad as head of film business affairs, according to internal memos obtained by Deadline. The appointments follow the departure of Dan Scharf as head of global business operations and reflect a structural shift to embed business affairs leaders within the studio's film, series, and international divisions.

The Details

Schaffer will join Amazon MGM Studios on June 8 as Head of Business Affairs for Global Television, reporting to Peter Friedlander, who oversees the studio's TV operations, according to an internal note written by Friedlander and obtained by Deadline.

She arrives from Netflix, where she spent nearly 12 years. At Netflix, she most recently served as Vice President and Head of Series Business Affairs for the U.S. and Canada, overseeing teams across scripted, animated, nonfiction, and live sports programming, Friedlander wrote in the note.

In a separate internal communication, Courtenay Valenti, who oversees the studio's film division, wrote that Craig Muhlrad will lead a new film-dedicated embedded business affairs team as Head of Film Business Affairs, reporting directly to her.

Friedlander's note stated that the studio will now have business affairs leaders embedded within its film, series, and international teams. Valenti's note similarly outlined the creation of the embedded film business affairs team.

The appointments were first reported by Deadline and subsequently picked up by Yahoo Entertainment.

Context

The restructuring comes after the departure of Dan Scharf, the studio's former head of global business operations. The internal communications, published by Deadline, outlined the reorganization from Friedlander and Valenti in separate notes to staff.

Friedlander wrote that Mandy Schaffer was "one of the longest-serving Business Affairs executives at Netflix, having spent nearly 12 years building and leading the function." He noted that she most recently served as vice president heading series business affairs for the U.S. and Canada, with oversight across scripted, animated, nonfiction, and live sports content.

According to Friedlander's note, until Schaffer's June 8 start date, Julia Shapiro will report directly to him and serve as the primary point of contact for television business affairs matters.

Valenti's note stated that Muhlrad will lead the film-dedicated embedded business affairs team, reporting directly to her. The memos did not detail Muhlrad's employment history prior to the appointment.

The two internal notes, obtained by Deadline, framed the appointments as part of an effort to place business affairs leaders within the studio's film, series, and international operations rather than functioning as a separate centralized division.

Amazon MGM Studios has not issued a public statement separate from the internal communications reported by Deadline.

What's Next

Schaffer is scheduled to begin her new role reporting to Friedlander on June 8. The restructuring places dedicated business affairs leadership within both the television and film divisions under Friedlander and Valenti, respectively, following the exit of the previous head of global business operations.