Amazon MGM Studios has made a key hire in its unscripted programming division.
Jenny Groom, currently executive vp unscripted development at BBC Studios, will join Amazon MGM as head of MGM Alternative at the end of November. She’ll report to Jenn Levy, head of nonfiction at the studio.
“Bringing in someone with Jenny’s extensive experience, on both the buying and selling side of the business, positions MGM Alternative as a key creative asset for our unscripted ambitions, and reinforces our commitment to developing and selling shows all around town,” Levy wrote in a memo to her team Wednesday (the full note is at the end of this story).
As head of alternative, Groom will have oversight of long-running MGM shows Survivor, The Voice and Shark Tank. She’ll also lead development of new series for Amazon’s Prime Video and to license to other outlets.
At BBC Studios, Groom developed and executive produced Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro and Nation’s Dumbest, which had solid summer runs on ABC and Fox. Several other projects under her watch landed pilot or development deals.
Groom also spent almost 20 years at NBCUniversal, rising to executive vp unscripted programming. During her time there, she greenlit The Traitors and oversaw a reality slate that includes The Voice and America’s Got Talent.
Levy’s memo announcing the hiring of Groom is below.
Team,
I’m thrilled to share that Jenny Groom is joining us as Head of MGM Alternative reporting to me. Jenny will oversee our legacy franchises including Survivor, Shark Tank, and The Voice, as well as our format library which remains active around the world. She’ll also focus on developing new formats and series for our Prime Video slate and driving third-party sales.
Bringing in someone with Jenny’s extensive experience, on both the buying and selling side of the business, positions MGM Alternative as a key creative asset for our unscripted ambitions, and reinforces our commitment to developing and selling shows all around town.
Jenny brings 20+ years as one of unscripted TV’s most respected creative leaders. Most recently, as EVP of Unscripted Development at BBC Studios, she developed and executive produced Nation’s Dumbest (Fox’s #1 summer launch in four years, greenlit for season 2) and Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (ABC/Hulu – #1 summer launch in six years). She also led the team in securing multiple development and pilot deals across broadcast and streaming platforms.
Across nearly two decades at NBCUniversal, most recently as EVP of Unscripted Programming, she commissioned the multi-Emmy-winning The Traitors and Love Island, as well as oversaw the slate that kept NBC #1 in unscripted, including The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and American Ninja Warrior. She’s also an EP on Netflix’s Funny AF with Kevin Hart, returning for season 2, and has built many deep relationships with top talent.
Please join me in giving Jenny a warm welcome. I couldn’t be more excited about what she’ll bring to our team and the future of our slate.
Jenny will start after Thanksgiving on Monday 11/30.
Jenn Levy
Head of Nonfiction at Amazon MGM Studios
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter