Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria is leaving, will be replaced by Peter Rice
Former Disney executive Peter Rice will oversee scripted, unscripted, film and live events as Netflix cuts about 1,000 jobs and slows hiring.
- On Thursday, Netflix announced that former Disney executive Peter Rice will replace Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria on October 26, as Bajaria departs after nearly a decade with the company.
- The leadership change follows a massive workforce reduction on Wednesday, when Netflix laid off about 1,000 employees, representing about 6 percent of its total workforce and its largest layoff round in four years.
- Rice previously served as Chairman of Walt Disney Television and Chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company; "He understands what makes stories resonate," said Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, citing Rice's deep experience across film and television.
- Netflix will see Rice oversee all scripted and unscripted series, film, and live events, bringing his experience from networks like ABC, Hulu, and FX. "Netflix has fundamentally changed the way stories are made," Rice said.
- Facing slowing growth, Co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently emphasized the company's focus on engagement, noting that Netflix grew viewership on 200 billion hours of watching by 2 percent. The hire addresses mounting pressure to improve performance.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Netflix Stunner: Bela Bajaria Out as Chief Content Officer, Former Disney Exec Peter Rice Steps in
Netflix’s longtime chief content officer Bela Bajaria is leaving the company after 10 years, with former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice expected to replace her, per a report by Puck. Bajaria’s exit comes after the streaming company laid off around 1,000 employees, roughly 6% of its workforce, on Wednesday. More to come…
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria Exiting
Bela Bajaria is out at Netflix. The news comes only 24 hours after the streamer underwent a massive cull, laying off around 1,000 employees. Bajaria joined the company, initially running its unscripted TV slate, in 2016 and was named Chief Content Officer in January 2023. There have been rumors about her leaving the company for the last couple of weeks, all denied internally. Puck is reporting that former Disney exec Peter Rice is in line to …
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