The ABC is delighted to announce two major executive appointments in the new Content division, with Rachel Okine from Stan joining the ABC as Head of Scripted and former Netflix executive Susie Jones taking up the role as Head of Factual.
The pair bring a wealth of experience in understanding what content to commission for streamers that will help drive the Content division’s focus around on demand content and reinforce the ABC’s standing as a premier destination for world-class content.
“To be able to welcome creative executives of the calibre of Rachel and Susie to the ABC is incredibly humbling,” said ABC Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor. “They’re both exceptional leaders and bring direct experience of commissioning programs at two of the best streamers in the world, Netflix and Stan. The ABC will significantly benefit from their experience and knowledge.”
As the ABC’s Head of Scripted, Okine will oversee the biggest Scripted slate in Australia.
“It is an honour to have the opportunity to build upon the ABC’s legacy of delivering excellent storytelling to audiences here and abroad, as we steer a course through the next stage of its digital evolution,” Okine said. “Under the leadership of Chris Oliver-Taylor and Jennifer Collins, it’s promising to be a very exciting time of transformative change.”
Okine moves across from Stan, where she was the Senior Commissioning Editor overseeing a slate of scripted drama and comedy, feature films and feature documentaries. She will oversee all ABC drama and comedy in the newly-created role of Head of Scripted, starting 4 September.
Chris Oliver-Taylor said: “Rachel brings local and international experience across distribution and streaming to the ABC, where she will lead a supremely talented team of commissioning editors. She will be a brilliant addition to our team and will build on the incredible legacy that is the ABC’s Scripted output.”
As the new Head of Factual, Susie Jones, will manage the largest output of factual and documentary content in Australia, from science to religion, true crime to investigative journalism, natural history to travel, as well as the internal success stories of Landline, Gardening Australia, Compass, Back Roads and the ABC’s biggest show of 2022, Muster Dogs.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the ABC as Head of Factual,” Jones said. “The ABC so often captures the national conversation and building on that brilliant pedigree I look forward to working closely with the team to bring fresh, thought-provoking new shows to all Australians.”
Jones starts her new role as the ABC’s Head of Factual on 24 July.
Chris Oliver-Taylor said: “This is the third time that I have worked with Susie. Susie was the first person I hired at Matchbox Pictures, and I worked very closely with her most recently at Netflix. I cannot wait to see what impact Susie will have on such a vital part of the ABC’s output.”
Okine and Jones will report to Head of Screen Content Jennifer Collins.
ABOUT RACHEL OKINE
Rachel Okine joined Stan in 2021 and is the Senior Commissioning Editor, overseeing a slate of scripted drama and comedy, feature films and feature documentaries. After starting her career in acquisitions at FilmFour, Okine was the first employee of Hopscotch, later becoming the Acquisitions Executive for eOne ANZ and Head of Development for Hopscotch Features. Okine moved back to Europe in 2015 to become Paris-based VP of International Production and Acquisitions for Studiocanal and was subsequently appointed VP of International Acquisitions for STX. Returning to Australia in 2020, Okine was appointed Managing Director of Academy Award-nominated production company Aquarius Films to strategically lead its film and TV operations.
ABOUT SUSIE JONES
Most recently Susie Jones spent a year and a half as Slate Manger & Creative Executive at Netflix ANZ. She began her career in the BBC Comedy department in London before returning to Australia, where she spent more than 15 years as a freelance creative producer and director for a range of content across the ABC, SBS, the Ten, Nine and Seven Networks and the Discovery Channel. Jones spent six years working at Matchbox Pictures as a Development Executive, developing content for all networks. In 2016 she joined SBS as commissioning editor for documentaries where she was responsible for a slate of award- winning content, including multiple seasons of Who Do You Think You Are?, The Ghan, Addicted Australia and See What You Made Me Do. Jones was also previously SBS’s Head of Entertainment and Food.
