By Richard Middleton
Netflix has unveiled a new-look to its senior commissioning ranks under the recently installed VP of original TV Bela Bajaria.
Bajaria took up her new role in September with a remit across both English and non English-language series, prompting a series of departures including Cindy Holland and Channing Dungey, with the latter recently becoming chairman of Warner Bros Television Group.
Those exits have now been followed by a restructure that puts an emphasis on international content, with a focus on drama, comedy, event series, unscripted and talent on overall deals at Netflix.
On the US side, Brian Wright, VP of young adult and family, will oversee originals from Netflix’s roster of talent on overall deals, with the YA & Family division brought into drama and comedy.
Peter Friedlander is moving from leading genre and thrillers in the drama team to head up event TV, while Jinny Howe becomes head of drama, development and former YA exec Renate Radford becomes head of drama, current. Howe and Radford will work together to lead drama series across genres such as crime, thriller, relationship and YA.
Andy Weil becomes interim head of comedy with a search underway for a full-timer, while Brandon Reigg remains head of unscripted.
A head of US series is being sought following the exit of VP of original content Holland, with that role leading the US-focused execs. Until that person is appointed, Reigg, Wright, Friedlander, Howe and Radford report into Bajaria.
Outside of the US, head of EMEA local language originals Kelly Luegenbiehl becomes head of global franchises, with Netherlands-based VP of EMEA originals Larry Tanz taking up her remit.
Former Sky exec Anne Mensah remains in charge of UK series, while Korean originals chief Minyoung Kim will now also lead on Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand content.
VP of Japan/Hong Kong/Taiwan and anime John Derderian will continue to report into Bajaria, as will VP of India Monika Shergill. Francisco Ramos remains VP of Latin America originals.
The global rejig is designed to clarify which executives should be pitched to and means the structure now more closely resembles that of a US studio.
News of the new-look team follows a turbulent time at Netflix, which moved chief content officer Ted Sarandos to become Netflix’s co-CEO in July. He has sought to streamline the content team and grow the company’s global subscriber base as the US market reaches subscriber saturation point.
Since then, numerous execs have left including Nina Wolarksy, Netflix’s VP of original series for drama, and president of originals Jane Wiseman. https://www.digitaltveurope.com
