Amazon MGM Studios Unscripted Boss Barry Poznick Steps Down

Barry Poznick is exiting his gig as Amazon MGM Studios’ head of unscripted programming. He is not abandoning his shows, however: Poznick will continue executive producing all of MGM’s reality franchises, including The Voice, Shark Tank, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Real Housewives of Rhode Island, The Real Housewives of Orange County, Vanderpump Rules and American Gladiators, under a new three-year deal.

Poznick joined MGM in 2016 as its president of alternative programming. There, Poznick oversaw 20 20 seasons of Survivor and led the company’s acquisitions of Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment. Poznick, under Mark Burnett, also opened an international production unit based in the UK.

Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 in an $8.45 billion blockbuster deal. At Amazon MGM Studios, Poznick’s title was general manager of unscripted television.

Below is the email that Peter Friedlander, the new head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, sent to staff:

I’m pleased to share some exciting news about Barry Poznick, who has served as Head of MGM Alternative for nearly a decade.

Beginning January 1, 2026, Barry will transition into a new, multi-year production deal with Amazon MGM Studios, serving as an Executive Producer overseeing the division’s flagship franchises.

Barry joined MGM in 2016 and became an integral part of the Amazon team following our acquisition. Throughout his tenure, he has been a transformative force in unscripted entertainment with oversight on shows like The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, Real Housewives, On Patrol Live, 007: Road to a Million, and many more. His exceptional ability to both create and scale hit shows has been instrumental in consistently delivering compelling programming that resonates with audiences worldwide. His deep understanding of global formats and proven track record producing top-rated shows makes this transition a natural evolution of his celebrated career in entertainment.

I want to assure you that our strong leadership team remains intact in the MGM Unscripted organization. Lucilla D’Agostino and Kitty Gamble will continue to lead the creative development, Justin Dudek will continue to lead physical production, and Ryan Singer and Tony Borbagiovanni will continue in their roles, providing continuity in our creative vision and operational excellence.

We are delighted that Barry will maintain his relationship with Amazon through a producer deal, allowing us to continue our prosperous partnership.