Former HBO executive Len Amato takes on the role of Chief Content Officer at MasterClass – The Hollywood Reporter
Former HBO executive Len Amato is gearing up for his next gig.
Amato, who stepped down as president of HBO Films, Cinemax and miniseries last year, has been nominated to serve as chief content officer at MasterClass.
In his new role, Amato will head the content organization and lead innovation, strategy, and development of classroom launches at the company. He will report to MasterClass founder and CEO David Rogier.
“Len is a pioneer in creating original, premium content, and I am delighted to welcome him to the team,” said Rogier. “His passion for storytelling, proven leadership, and ability to attract talent will help us expand and innovate, providing even more ways to transform the lives of our members. through our content.”
Amato added: “MasterClass is setting a new standard for premium content with cinematic value and its ability to intimately connect world-class instructors with members. I’m excited to continue to democratize learning by bringing these stories to life in new ways and scaling the impact of our content. ”
Amato spent more than a decade at HBO and decided to leave last year as part of an executive restructuring at WarnerMedia. Originally a producer, Amato joined HBO in 2007 as the Senior Vp HBO Films and oversaw scores of original HBO Films including Behind Candlesticks, Retelling, Confirmation, Fahrenheit 451, Normal Heart, Game Changer, Temple Grandin and Gray Gardens, among several others. The division has earned hundreds of Emmy Award nominations and winning scores.
He left a means of blocking HBO including The White House plumber, directed by David Mandel and starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux; and landscape person, from coach Alexander Payne and headed by Olivia Colman. He previously supervised David Simon’s limited series Conspiracy against America and played a key role in getting the picture nominated for an Emmy bad education, starring Hugh Jackman.
Amato is one of the few executives to have remained at HBO since Richard Plepler. His responsibilities were delegated to other executives at the company.
MasterClass has more than 150 faculty members with courses in a variety of fields, including the arts and entertainment, a space in which Amato has deep ties.
