Amazon-owned podcast and audiobook provider Audible has appointed former Wondery exec Marshall Lewy as head of content in North America.
He will oversee Audible’s slate of originals, reporting to Audible Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza.
The move follows the reorganization last August of the combined audio operations. Wondery CEO Jen Sargent exited amid the reshuffling, which resulted in about 100 layoffs. Wondery, which was acquired by Amazon in 2021, has remained intact as a brand primarily focused on celebrity-oriented podcasts like Dax Shephard’s Armchair Expert and Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights.
As Chief Content Officer at Wondery, Lewy oversaw a string of hit podcasts, several of which were adapted for TV, streaming and film. The roster included Hysterical, Dr. Death, Business Wars, and Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. Lewy earned executive producer credits on seven television series, including Dr. Death (Peacock), The Shrink Next Door (Apple TV), and WeCrashed (Apple TV). He was nominated for an Emmy for FX’s Dying for Sex.
Prior to his arrival at Wondery in 2018, Lewy was a partner at Adaptive Studios, backer of the revived version of Project Greenlight on HBO. Lewy received an Emmy nomination for the series and also produced the Netflix film Coin Heist. He also is an accomplished independent filmmaker, writing and directing the features Blue State and California Solo, the latter of which had its world premiere at Sundance.
In his new role, Lewy will oversee the creative development and production of Audible audio dramas, exclusive audiobooks, podcasts, and investigative series. He will also steer initiatives like Audible Theater and the company’s film and television development and production activities. Audible says it has dozens of audio-first projects in active development across networks, studios and streamers.
“Marshall’s appointment represents a tremendous opportunity for Audible’s North American content ambitions,” Ghiazza said. “His background as both a creator and executive, combined with his extensive network of industry contacts and proven track record of developing wildly popular shows, makes him uniquely positioned to lead our content strategy forward. Marshall is known throughout the industry as an outstanding leader who consistently delivers breakthrough entertainment that resonates with audiences on a massive scale.”
English (US) ·