EXCLUSIVE: Annalies Sitvast just got landed a big promotion at Amazon MGM Studios.
We’ve learned she has been named Head of Local Originals, Benelux, effective immediately, rising from her former role as Head of Unscripted. The position covers commissioning in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In a note to staff seen by Deadline, Amazon MGM Studios Head of UK & Northern Europe Originals Tara Erer announced the promotion, saying: “From day one, Annelies has impressed us all with her creative vision, sharp audience insight, and natural leadership. She is admired by colleagues and local creatives alike, and I know she will take our Benelux slate to even greater heights.”
The role is a new one for Amazon MGM Studios Benelux, and comes just two years after Sitvast joined to lead unscripted commissioning. Sitvast will report into Erer, who oversees numerous territories in Europe.
“Since joining in September 2023 as Head of Unscripted, Annelies has launched successful shows such as LOL and developed fresh formats including Know Where to Hide, Hakken Over de Sloot and the upcoming Beauty and the Geek,” said Erer. “In her new role, she will continue building our unscripted slate while also leading the movies and scripted slate for audiences in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.”
Prior to Amazon, Sitvast had spent a period as VP and Head of Unscripted Original Production at HBO Max and Warner Bros Discovery predecessor WarnerMedia in EMEA. Before that, she consulted for ITV Studios and had a long spell at Dutch network Net5, which was initially under the SBS umbrella before John de Mol’s Talpa Network took it on in 2017. During a 12-year spell she rose from an acquisitions role to run the commercial channel. She has also had a separate spell at Talpa, and worked for Eyeworks and CCCP.
This is the second new leader of an Amazon MGM Studios originals team in Europe in a month. In August, we were first with the news that Emilia Widstrand was replacing the WBD-bound Karin Lindström as Head of Nordic Originals.
Amazon MGM Studios is currently searching for a new Head of Television following the exit of Vernon Sanders, with numerous well-known names such as Peter Friedlander, Chris McCumber and Susan Rovner in the running, per Nellie Andreeva’s report this week.
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