Netflix Taps Peter Rice as Content Chief in Major Leadership Shake-Up
What Happened
Netflix announced on 15 October 2026 that former Disney executive Peter Rice will become its Chief Content Officer from 26 October, replacing Bela Bajaria, who is leaving after nearly 10 years at the company. Rice will oversee Netflix's global content strategy across series, films and live events. Bajaria had served as Chief Content Officer since January 2023 and oversaw hit titles such as Bridgerton and Squid Game. The leadership change comes a day after Netflix disclosed plans to cut about 6% of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 jobs.
Key Takeaways
The appointment places a veteran media executive in charge of Netflix's content operations at a time when the company is seeking to sustain audience engagement and growth amid intense competition from streaming and digital platforms.