* Christine Shipton is now VP of original programming at CanWest MediaWorks, just five months after joining the corporation as director of dramatic programming. She has also worked at Alliance Atlantis, the CBC and Blueprint Entertainment.

* Tara Ellis is now VP of content at Showcase, moving up from director of original dramatic programming, where she worked on shows like Webdreams, Slings and Arrows and Naked Josh. She has also held posts at the CBC and cochaired WIFT.

* Sean Farnel is the new director of programming for Hot Docs, joining the Toronto doc festival after five years as the Real to Reel programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival. Farnel also founded and programs Hot Docs’ monthly screening series Doc Soup.

* Global Television has hired Jamie Schouela as its director of advertising and promotion strategy. He was formerly a director of marketing at Alliance Atlantis.

Elsewhere at CanWest, former ad man Brad Parry has been named director of marketing for CH Television, and will be based in Calgary. Tim Kist is the new director of marketing for Global’s specialties and will work out of Winnipeg. Kist was previously in sales and marketing at APTN.

* NBC Universal Television Distribution Canada has promoted Marylou Leighton to sales director, Wanda Bradley to manager of sales operations, and Annika Smith to manager of finance.

* Journalist Mary Lou Finlay is retiring, leaving her post as host of CBC Radio One’s As it Happens after eight years. Finlay’s long career in broadcasting has included hosting duties on CBC’s The Journal and Take 30, and CTV’s Live it Up, which she also produced.