Amazon recruits Apple's Oliver Jones for UK scripted position

Amazon's scripted team for international projects is expanding.

The streaming service has brought on board Oliver Jones, who has served at Apple for the past six years, as the Senior Commissioner for UK Scripted Content.

This development was communicated by Nicole Clemens, VP of International Originals, in a message to staff members.

Jones held the position of Senior Creative Executive for International Scripted Television at Apple, overseeing English-language international series, non-English language originals, joint ventures, and acquisitions. 

His work included projects like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters starring Kurt Russell, Masters of the Air from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks featuring Austin Butler, Israeli spy series Tehran, and Alfonso Cuarón’s Disclaimer.

Oliver is set to begin in May and will be moving from LA to London.

Before his time at Apple, he contributed to series such as The Mosquito Coast, Fellow Travelers, and American Gods at Fremantle, worked on Yellowstone at The Weinstein Company, and participated in the production of Empire at Imagine Television.

Amazon’s collection of UK scripted series features titles like Robin Wright’s The Girlfriend, Sophie Turner’s Steal, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, and Riz Ahmed’s Bait.

Upcoming titles include police thriller Dirty from Matt Charman and an adaptation of Chloe Walsh’s Boys Of Tommen.

UK scripted content commissioners Gemma Brandler and Punit Mattoo will report to Jones.

In her message to the Amazon MGM Studios International Originals team, Clemens emphasized a “strong commitment” to the UK.

"Oliver is an experienced scripted executive with a successful history in creating top-tier international content,” she stated. “This appointment highlights our ongoing dedication to delivering exceptional UK scripted productions, expanding our offerings for audiences in the UK and around the world.”

Jones remarked, “Working alongside my talented colleagues at Apple TV over the past six years and collaborating with the incredible artists I’ve had the pleasure to work with has been an honor. Leaving a beloved job is never easy, but it feels like the right time to return home for a new journey. Amazon MGM Studios' dedication and drive to produce bold, thought-provoking, quality stories, along with their substantial investment increase in the UK, makes it an incredibly exciting time to join Nicole and her outstanding team.”