TORONTO – Shaw Media revealed a number of new organizational changes to its original content team Wednesday, a combination of promotions and new hires.
Led by SVP and chief creative officer Christine Shipton, the division is responsible for the development of original series and co-productions, the creation of multiplatform content, and domestic and international strategic partnerships.
According to an internal memo, the changes are as follows:
Lisa Godfrey, Head of Original Content
Godfrey (pictured) has over 25 years experience in the television industry both in production and broadcasting. As head of original content at Shaw Media, she oversees all Canadian programming for Global and specialty channels.
Her career is rooted in original production with credits including work on Canada’s first daytime talk show, The Shirley Show as well as U.S.-based series’ Sally Jesse Raphael and The Montel Williams Show. In 2001 Godfrey transitioned to broadcasting, joining specialty broadcaster Alliance Atlantis as director of original content for a number of specialty channels including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, Slice, History Television, and National Geographic Channel. In 2010 her focus shifted when she took on the role of director of programming and scheduling at Shaw Media, developing programming and scheduling strategies for some of the country’s biggest specialty services.
Robyn Hutt, Director of Factual Content
Hutt (right) joins Shaw Media as the director of factual content overseeing History, Slice, and reality programming 
for Global. She has spent most of her career in the U.S. working for several well-known brands like Court TV and TRUTV. As senior vice-president of TRUTV, Hutt engineered the radical reinvention of Court TV to TRUTV creating a top 10 cable network in less than four years. She oversaw over 300 hours of original programming – including hit shows like Impractical Jokers, Hard Core Pawn, Killer Karaoke, South Beach Tow and Full Throttle Saloon.
Krista Look, Director of Lifestyle Content
Look joins Shaw Media as the director of lifestyle content overseeing HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada. She has spent the majority of her career working in the lifestyle genre with credits such as: series producer of Master Chef Canada; and creator and supervising producer of several CBC Lifestyle brands including Steven and Chris, Best Recipes Ever, and In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita.
Rachel Nelson, Director Original Dramatic Content
With over 20 years experience in the television industry, Nelson has been part of Shaw Media’s original content team for over a decade. She has overseen the production of numerous award-winning original dramas including Durham County, Blue Murder, Traders and Bomb Girls and most recently hit series for Global and Shaw Media’s specialty channels including Rookie Blue, Vikings, Lost Girl and Continuum. In this role Nelson will lead the development and production of all upcoming dramatic originals and co-productions for the organization.
Lynne Carter, Manager of Factual Content and Business Affairs
Carter has worked with Shaw Media’s original content team for more than 14 years. She has spearheaded Big Brother Canada for the past three years, and has also led Canada’s Walk of Fame awards show and the Indspire Awards. Carter will also manage the original content team’s business affairs including the CMF (Canada Media Fund), CAVCO (Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office), Bell Fund, and any regulatory and funding changes and opportunities.
Nancy Franklin, Manager of Original Lifestyle Content
Franklin has served as a production executive at Shaw Media for networks like Slice, HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada. Over the last five years, she has overseen hits like Real Housewives of Vancouver, Timber Kings, Carnival Eats and has helped to create Shaw Media’s own internally-produced series Food Factory. Prior to this Franklin was the executive producer of Slice’s former daytime series The Mom Show and Three Takes.
Marni Goldman, Production Executive, Lifestyle
Goldman comes to Shaw Media from Rogers Media where she was a production executive for the past four years. She is a highly creative, senior media professional with wide-ranging experience as a producer, writer, and director in the Canadian television industry and has a proven track record in entertainment, documentary and reality programming.
Larissa Laycock, Production Executive, Lifestyle
Prior to joining Shaw Media’s team, Laycock held a variety of creative positions in production, most recently as a story editor on The Amazing Race Canada. Prior to that, she was series producer/director of What's For Sale?, and series producer for Dining INNvasion. Other Lifestyle shows Laycock has worked on include: Keasha’s Perfect Dress, The Mom Show, and Rich Groom, Poor Groom.
These promotions and new hires join Shaw Media’s current team of production executives including Susan Alexander, Craig Baines, Kathy Cross, Stephen Finney, Holly Gillanders, Andrea Griffith, Andrew Johnson and Robin Neinstein, continues the memo.
