Amazon MGM Studios' global TV chief Peter Friedlander has announced his second major restructuring of the year, continuing his push towards genre-based development and programming teams. The shake-up sees three executives — Jen Chambers, Michael McDonald and Odetta Watkins — leave the company, while Kara Smith is promoted to head of drama. Friedlander framed the move in an internal memo as "a flatter approach that prioritises clarity and speed to nurture creativity", signalling how he is reshaping the studio's television operation.

Smith, a seven-year veteran linked to titles such as The Summer I Turned Pretty, Reacher and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, will run a drama team organised around verticals, with executives guiding series from development through later seasons. Friedlander also plans to hire a new head of comedy and a head of young adult programming, both reporting to him, alongside existing leads for worldbuilding, nonfiction and animation. The changes follow a January 2026 reorganisation and Friedlander's arrival at the studio in October 2025 after 14 years at Netflix.