Amazon Studios’ global formats development head CJ Yu exits after six years

Amazon Studios’ head of global formats development CJ Yu has exited the company after six years.

CJ Yu

Yu joined the company in 2017 as a senior creative development and programming executive before being elevated to head of unscripted Latin American development and programming in 2018 and the following year to head of unscripted development, global formats.

During his time with Amazon Studios, LA-based Yu oversaw the international rollout and expansion of Amazon’s LOL: Last One Laughing franchise, a Japanese format that has been remade in multiple markets including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, India, Brazil and as separate English and French versions in Canada.

He has also led the expansion of its sports docuseries format All or Nothing, which has given a behind-the-scenes look into international sports teams including: soccer teams Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus; ice hockey team Toronto Maple Leafs; and American football teams the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Prior to Amazon Studios, Yu was VP of creative development and original programming at Tiny Horse and before that he was VP of digital creative programming and business development at Talpa Media USA.

Deadline was first to report the news of Yu’s departure.