Paradigm Names Shakira Gagnier Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion

WarnerMedia has brought its studio-wide drive towards greater diversity and inclusion to Canada. The media giant has unveiled a new Canadian talent development team to bolster representation of diverse and under-represented creators in front of and behind the camera north of the border.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAudible, the Amazon-owned audiobook and audio entertainment company, has tapped Twitch and Spotify veteran Pat Shah to become its vice president of content acquisition.Shah will steer Audible’s content acquisition strategy, shepherding its content deal operations and talent relations teams. He will report to Audible head of U.S.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has appointed Helen Hoehne vice president of the association after previous VP Ali Sar was promoted to president following the death of Lorenzo Soria.Hoehne has been an HFPA member since 2004 and has served on the Board of Directors for eight years.More to come…

Clayton Davis The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sent ripples through the industry Tuesday with the announcement of new diversity and representation requirements for best picture beginning in 2024.

The following language comes straight from The Academy: STANDARD A:  ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES, AND NARRATIVESTo achieve Standard A, the film must meet one of the following criteria:A1.

NEW YORK -- Playwright-novelist Ayad Akhtar has been named the new president of PEN America, the human rights and literary organization.Akhtar, who assumes the presidency Dec. 2, succeeds novelist Jennifer Egan.“PEN America has its work cut out for it in an era when the quest for truth is challenged as never before,” Akhtar said in a statement Tuesday.

Paradigm has tapped Shakira Gagnier to head the agency's diversity and inclusion efforts, in an announcement made by chairman and CEO Sam Gores.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsParadigm has named Shakira Gagnier vice president of the agency’s diversity and inclusion section.“Today is only the first of many steps that the leadership at Paradigm will take to stress diversity and inclusion as a core value of our agency,” said Paradigm chairman and CEO Sam Gores, who announced the news.

Also Read: Casey Wasserman Back in Talks to Acquire Paradigm's Music Assets, CEO Sam Gores Sidelined (Exclusive)“I look forward to investing all levels of the company in that foundational journey — together, we will create a culture and workplace that reflects the inclusive ambitions of the company’s leadership and mirrors the diverse roster of artists the agency represents,” she continued.Paradigm said in a release that it plans to make Gagnier a key member of the agency’s executive team,

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterKate LaBrel has been named president of Facet Records, the label side of the multifaceted music company founded by songwriter Justin Tranter and publishing veteran Katie Vinten.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: MRC-backed LA production outfit A-Major Media has named Pier Nirandara as Vice President, Film & Television, reporting to production company head Mary Lee.A-Major Media, which launched in 2019 with a majority investment from MRC in association with UTA, is dedicated to championing Asian American voices in film and TV.Nirandara joins the company from Columbia Pictures where she worked as Director of Development for International Content where her

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeABC-owned KABC-TV (“ABC7”) has named Pam Chen to serve as the station’s vice president and news director. The move makes Chen the first Asian American news department head at a network-owned station in Los Angeles.Chen replaces Rob Elmore, who had headed up KABC’s news operations since 2015.

Nickelodeon hired Zack Olin to the role of senior vice president of live-action Tuesday.In the newly-created role, Olin will partner with Shauna Phelan, who serves as senior vice president of live-action scripted content. Together they will oversee scripted series, movies and specials in the company’s scripted division.Olin will report to Brian Robbins, president of ViacomCBS Kids and Family Entertainment.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Thursday that it has named Ali Sar as president, replacing Lorenzo Soria, who was halfway through a two-year term when he died suddenly last Friday.Sar has been a member of the HFPA for more than 35 years and most recently served as vice president.“We were shocked by Lorenzo’s untimely passing.

Kamala Harris’ first Vice President fundraising event already has a strong set of supporters, including many Hollywood stars.

ITV has promoted its director of creative diversity Ade Rawcliffe to group director of diversity and inclusion, making the U.K. broadcasting giant the first FTSE 100 company with a dedicated diversity director on its executive board.

Naman Ramachandran U.K. public service broadcaster ITV has upped current director of creative diversity Ade Rawcliffe to the position of group director of diversity and inclusion.Rawcliffe will report to the group CEO, Carolyn McCall, and will be a member of the management board.

Kamala Harris, 55, talked about the importance of family when she revealed her stepkids call her “Momala”, a spinff of her first name, in her first public speech since being announced as Joe Biden‘s pick for Vice President in the upcoming presidential election in Nov. and it made an impression on many of her supporters on social media.