Mark Shopiro has been promoted to become head of Amazon’s Prime Video, Canada. He will report into Magda Grace, head of Prime Video, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Shopiro has been at Amazon since 2019, most recently overseeing the engagement, marketplace and sports business for Prime Video in Canada.
Dan Slepak will step into the newly created role of head of marketplace, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, also reporting to Grace.Slepak has been at Amazon since 2022, most recently in content acquisitions for the Prime Video Channels and TVOD businesses at Prime Video International.
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Shopiro and Slepak join Brent Hayes, head of international originals, Canada, Amazon MGM Studios; Shaun Alperin, head of content, Prime Video, Canada, and Owen McCorquodale, head of communications, Prime Video, Canada.
In addition, to the changes in Canada, Hwei Loke will step into the role of head of Prime Video Australia and New Zealand. The role encompasses customer growth and engagement, local marketing and portfolio management, live sports and internal partnerships. It also sees Loke leading all Australian Amazon Originals releases, international Amazon Originals releases in regions, Amazon Exclusives and third-party licensed content.
Hushidar Kharas, who was Prime Video’s first employee in Australia and New Zealand, is transitioning from leading the Prime Video Australia and New Zealand team to take on a new role as head of ‘Global Prime Video Brand and Social Strategy.’ He will be based in the U.S.
While Prime Video has scaled back its originals production efforts in neighboring Southeast Asia, and slashed staff numbers at Amazon MGM Studios and Twitch, Australia with its English-language focus has remained a production priority for the group.
It is now in production on a second season of “Deadloch,” and post-production on a female-driven version of “The Office” and prestige mini-series “The Narrow Road to the Far North.”
The company reports that it has commissioned 30 Australian original series and features in Australia since 2019. They include: “The Test S1-3”’ “Making Their Mark”; “LOL: Last One Laughing Australia with Rebel Wilson”; “Back to the Rafters”; three seasons of “Luxe Listings Sydney”; feature-length documentary “Burning”; “The Moth Effect”; “Head Above Water”; “Kick Like Tayla”; “Warriors On The Field”; “Class of ’07”; Sigourney Weaver-starring “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart”; “Dance Life”; a series of ten stand-up comedy specials; revived soap opera “Neighbours” from the dead; “Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles”; “Five Blind Dates”; and the upcoming “Top End Bub.”
A marketer with over 15 years’ experience, Loke has spent her career leading cross-functional marketing and creative teams to drive tangible growth across some of the biggest global and local brands including The Walt Disney Company, Australian public broadcaster SBS and Paramount (previously ViacomCBS). She joined Prime Video Australia in 2020.
Prior to joining Amazon, Slepak was VP of digital distribution at Sony Pictures Distribution where he was responsible for the U.S. TVOD business through digital distribution partners.
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