Amazon Prime Video has appointed from within for Chris Bird’s successor as UK country manager, Screen’s sister publication Broadcast can reveal.
Prime Video device partnerships exec Siena Pakington will take up the role on 2 June, according to a staff memo from director of EU established countries Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, seen by Broadcast.
Pakington joined Amazon in 2022 as part of the device partnerships business development team and latterly has been responsible for distribution partnerships with MVPDs (Multichannel Video Program Distributor) globally.
Following her appointment, Tushar Jindal, head of UK content for licensing and acquisitions, Hannah Blyth, head of TV licensing and acquisitions UK & Ireland, head of film licensing and acquisitions Nikhil Sood, content acquisitions managers Stella Dimova and Cecilia Tola and head of programming and marketing planning Andrea Colomina Basanta will report into Pakington.
Ricou-Bellan said her appointment would maintain “the momentum we’ve built on our journey to become the number one entertainment hub” under Bird, who left in March after four years at the helm.
Pakington’s career has spanned UK media and tech specialising in complex content rights and partnerships deals. Prior to joining Amazon she held roles at BT, Vodafone and the BBC. At the corporation she served on the 2012 Digital Board for the London Olympics.
Ricou-Bellan said she has cultivated “deep industry experience” at BT and the BBC, “delivering outstanding results in a short span of time and building productive partnerships internally and externally”.
Pakington said: “I’m thrilled to be moving into a role at the core of Prime Video’s UK business, after helping build its success through global distribution partnerships. Prime Video is a standout success within the UK’s dynamic TV and film landscape, and it’s great to join such a talented team as we push forward with our plans.
“With such a compelling mix of content on our service, it’s an exciting time to help drive Prime Video’s next phase of growth.”
Her appointment comes weeks after Broadcast revealed the original content team for Amazon MGM Studios was beginning to take shape under Tom Lieber.
A version of this story first appeared on Screen’s sister site Broadcast.
No comments yet