Amazon MGM Studios has promoted Mandy Schaffer to Head of TV Business Affairs and Craig Muhlrad to Head of Film Business Affairs, filling leadership gaps following Dan Scharf's departure as Head of Global Business Operations.
The moves come as the studio continues restructuring its executive team under Film Head Courtenay Valenti and Television Head Peter Friedlander. Business Affairs roles sit at the nexus of creative and commercial operations, handling contract negotiations, deal structures, and compliance across production and acquisition pipelines. These positions carry significant weight in how studios navigate talent agreements, production budgets, and rights management.
Schaffer and Muhlrad step into roles that require deep knowledge of industry standards, union rules, and the shifting economics of content creation. In television, Schaffer manages business affairs across Amazon's high-profile series, from prestige dramas to genre fare, as the company competes aggressively with Netflix, HBO, and traditional networks for awards and audience attention. The TV side has expanded considerably with tentpole shows and international productions consuming substantial resources and requiring intricate contractual architecture.
Muhlrad's film appointment covers Amazon MGM's theatrical slate and streaming releases, a portfolio that blends theatrical ambitions with direct-to-Prime strategies. The studio has pursued theatrical releases selectively while building a robust streaming library, demanding nuanced deal-making around windowing and distribution rights.
These appointments reflect industry-wide consolidation of executive power within major studios. Amazon MGM, formed through the 2022 merger of Amazon Studios and MGM Holdings, continues rationalizing its leadership structure nearly two years after closing. The studio has pursued aggressive content spending while simultaneously managing cost pressures across Hollywood. Business Affairs leaders directly influence which projects move forward, how budgets scale, and whether deals pencil out for talent and producers.
Valenti and Friedlander, who have