Apple TV sees a fresh start from its international content team

Just weeks after Oliver Jones left Apple TV for Amazon, another executive focused on international content is leaving the company. Here are the details.

Apple TV’s international division sees its second departure in a month

A few weeks ago, THR reported that Oliver Jones, an Apple TV executive who has worked on shows such as Masters of the Air, Disclaimer and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters over the past six years, is leaving for Amazon MGM Studios, where he will lead scripted content in the UK.

NOW, Deadline reports that Morgan Wandell, head of international development for Apple TV, is also leaving. Rather than going to a competitor, Wandell launched his own production company, called Kismet.

From Deadline:

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Kismet will develop and produce premium scripted series for the global market by finding and nurturing projects and voices capable of traveling through premium storytelling rooted in culture.

Interestingly, Wandell joined Apple in 2017, having led the development of original content for international audiences at Amazon Studios and ABC Studios before that.

Since then, he has worked on several Apple TV series, including Tehran, Acapulco, Masters of the Air, Disclaimer, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and The New Look.

Deadline says that with Wandell’s departure, Apple TV head of programming and national development Matt Cherniss will take over shows previously under Wandell. Cherniss has previously overseen series such as Ted Lasso, Severance, The Studio and Pluribus.

Meanwhile, Jay Hunt, Apple TV’s creative director for Europe, will expand his role to oversee international and local language originals. Hunt is currently in charge of shows including Slow Horses and Hijack.

Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and offers hit TV shows and movies like Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo.