Tom Lieber named Amazon UK scripted chief, takes on Bauer’s pan-English remit
Amazon MGM Studios has revealed a shake-up within its UK team, with Tom Lieber being elevated to head of scripted series.
Tom Lieber
Lieber, who was formerly Amazon’s head of genre programming, will now “provide single-threaded leadership of all new development and ongoing series produced in the UK,” according to a memo from Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios.
He will also assume the responsibilities formerly overseen by pan-English scripted originals boss Rola Bauer, whose departure was revealed last week.
In addition to his new UK role, Lieber will continue to oversee ongoing genre series including Fallout, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time and The Boys.
His appointment comes three months after Amazon revealed it had acquired Bray Film Studios and intended to expand its slate of UK-based shows. In his memo, Sanders said Lieber was “well suited to help lead our commitment to further deepen our relationships with the UK creative community.” He will be based in London.
With his promotion, Lieber will continue to report to head of copro television and ongoing series Laura Lancaster, who is based in the US. As a result, the wider Amazon MGM scripted business in the UK also reports to Lancaster.
Laura Lancaster
All new scripted UK development will now go through Lieber and his team, rather than head of northern Europe originals Tara Erer. Existing shows currently in development and post-production, including Malice, The Devils House and season two of The Rig, will continue to be overseen by Erer and her team, but future titles will go through Lieber.
Erer will continue to oversee UK unscripted shows, UK-based films and all other international originals for northern Europe, according to Sanders’ memo. She will report to head of international originals James Farrell.
“By bringing this remit under the leadership of Laura Lancaster in our global television organisation, we are excited to expand our ties with world-class storytellers and creative talent in the UK to ensure that our titles produced in this region find a worldwide audience,” said Sanders.
