Netflix Names Peter Rice Chief Content Officer as Bela Bajaria Exits

Netflix has named veteran media executive Peter Rice as its new chief content officer, replacing Bela Bajaria in a major leadership change at the streaming company.

Rice is scheduled to begin the role on October 26. Variety and Deadline report that his remit will cover Netflix’s global content organization, including scripted and unscripted television, film and live events. The appointment puts one executive over a broad slate that spans regions, formats and some of the industry’s most expensive programming decisions.

A new leader for Netflix’s global slate

Rice arrives with senior experience across major entertainment companies, including Fox and Disney. His new position places him at the center of Netflix’s effort to balance global scale with sharper choices about what gets produced, renewed and promoted. Deadline reported that the appointment was announced shortly after news of Bajaria’s departure emerged.

Bajaria leaves after a decade at Netflix. She joined the company in 2016, initially overseeing unscripted programming, and became chief content officer in January 2023. During her tenure, Netflix expanded local-language production while continuing to compete for major filmmakers, showrunners and live-event audiences.

The timing raises the stakes

The executive change comes during a wider period of restructuring at Netflix. Reports this week said the company was cutting roughly 1,000 jobs, adding immediate pressure to the transition. Rice will therefore inherit not only a sprawling creative portfolio but also the task of setting priorities during a tighter operating moment.

For viewers, leadership moves at this level rarely change the service overnight. Their effects tend to appear later through commissioning decisions, cancellations, franchise investments and the balance between films, series and live programming. Rice’s October start date means his influence will begin as Netflix plans its next production cycle, while projects already far along remain shaped by decisions made under the previous leadership.