Peter Friedlander Joins Amazon as New Head of Global TV

Los Angeles, CA – Peter Friedlander has been appointed as the new head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, effective October 6, 2025. Friedlander joins Amazon after a 14-year tenure at Netflix, where he played a key role in developing popular series such as ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Bridgerton.’

The announcement was made by Mike Hopkins, the head of Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, in an internal memo to staff. Friedlander succeeds Vernon Sanders, who departed the company recently. Friedlander will oversee Amazon’s original TV portfolio in the U.S. along with global tentpole titles, MGM Television, and MGM Alternative.

Hopkins expressed excitement about Friedlander’s arrival, stating, ‘I can’t wait for Peter to ramp up and meet all the teams, and I know he’s equally ready to get started on Day 1.’

During his extensive career at Netflix, Friedlander was one of the longest-serving executives, helping to shape the company’s original scripted content from the ground up. He began his career at Netflix in 2011 and has contributed to writing and producing many groundbreaking shows.

Prior to Netflix, Friedlander served as an executive at Playtone, the production company headed by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. He produced the Emmy-nominated series ‘Big Love’ and has experience working on various feature films.

Friedlander’s transition to Amazon reflects ongoing changes within the streaming industry, where many executives are shifting between major players. With his extensive background in content creation, Friedlander brings valuable expertise to Amazon as it looks to expand its original programming.

As both Friedlander and fellow former Netflix executive Cindy Holland lead rival streaming platforms, their influence on content direction will continue to shape the landscape of television as they compete for viewer attention.