Bela Bajaria leaves Netflix; ex-Disney executive Peter Rice to run content
Representative image: Gadini / Pixabay
Netflix said on 15 October 2026 that chief content officer Bela Bajaria is leaving and former Disney executive Peter Rice takes over from 26 October.
What Happened
Netflix said on Thursday, 15 October 2026, that chief content officer Bela Bajaria is leaving the company after a decade and will be replaced by Peter Rice, a former Disney television chief, from 26 October. Rice will oversee Netflix's entire global content operation, covering scripted and unscripted series, films and live events. The change comes in the same week that Netflix cut about 1,000 jobs, roughly 6 per cent of its workforce. Co-chief executive Ted Sarandos told staff in an email that Rice is one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry, and thanked Bajaria, saying he was incredibly grateful for everything she had done to help Netflix entertain the world.
Key Facts
- Netflix announced on 15 October 2026 that Bela Bajaria is leaving as chief content officer.
- Peter Rice, a former Disney executive, takes over as chief content officer from 26 October 2026.
- Rice will run Netflix's global content organisation, including series, unscripted shows, films and live events.
- Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 and had held the top creative role since early 2023.
- Sarandos credited her with growing unscripted programming and expanding Netflix into live events and sports.
- Netflix has cut about 1,000 jobs, around 6 per cent of its staff, according to reports, and its shares are down nearly 40 per cent from a year ago.
- Rice previously held senior roles at 21st Century Fox and Fox Searchlight and ran Disney's television business until he was removed in 2022 by then chief executive Bob Chapek.
Why It Matters
The chief content officer at Netflix decides, in effect, what the service's subscribers around the world get to watch. Bajaria held that job during a period of big change: Netflix moved into live programming and sports and grew its unscripted shows. Replacing her with an outsider signals that the company wants a different approach as it faces pressure on its share price and costs.
Rice is a veteran studio executive. He held senior roles at 21st Century Fox and Fox Searchlight, and later ran Disney's television business before he was removed in 2022. Sarandos's description of him as an "at-scale operator" points to what Netflix wants: someone who can manage a huge content slate efficiently at a time when the company is cutting staff.
The timing, alongside layoffs and a falling share price, will be read in the industry as part of a wider reset at Netflix. How Rice balances big global hits with spending discipline will shape what audiences, including in India, see on the service in the coming years.
| Person | Role | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Bela Bajaria | Outgoing chief content officer | Joined 2016, CCO since early 2023 |
| Peter Rice | Incoming chief content officer | Starts 26 October 2026; ex-Disney, ex-Fox |
| Ted Sarandos | Co-chief executive | Announced change in staff email |
Impact
Short-term: Netflix staff face a leadership change on top of job cuts. Producers and studios that work with the company will watch for any changes to commissioning priorities once Rice takes over on 26 October.
Long-term: Rice's choices will shape Netflix's balance between local-language productions, Hollywood films, unscripted shows and live sports. Investors will judge the change by whether it helps the company restore growth and confidence in its share price.
Who is affected: Netflix subscribers worldwide; producers, writers and studios who sell shows to Netflix, including in India; Netflix employees; and investors.
Key Takeaway
Netflix is replacing chief content officer Bela Bajaria with former Disney executive Peter Rice from 26 October 2026, in a leadership shake-up that coincides with about 1,000 job cuts.
Questions and Answers
Is Bela Bajaria leaving Netflix?
Yes. Netflix announced on 15 October 2026 that Bela Bajaria, its chief content officer since early 2023, is leaving after a decade at the company.
Who is Peter Rice?
Peter Rice is a veteran entertainment executive who held senior roles at 21st Century Fox and Fox Searchlight and later ran Disney's television business until 2022. He becomes Netflix's chief content officer on 26 October 2026.
What will Peter Rice be responsible for at Netflix?
He will oversee Netflix's global content operation, covering scripted and unscripted series, films and live events.
Is the change linked to Netflix's layoffs?
Netflix has not said the two are linked, but the announcement came the same week the company cut about 1,000 jobs, around 6 per cent of its workforce.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
