Key facts
- Peter Rice appointed chief content officer, replacing Bela Bajaria.
- Rice will oversee content strategy from October 26.
- Bajaria oversaw hits like "Bridgerton" and "Squid Game" during her tenure.
- The appointment follows Netflix's recent layoff of 1,000 employees.
- Netflix faces investor concerns over sustained growth and user engagement.
Netflix appointed former Disney executive Peter Rice as its new chief content officer, succeeding Bela Bajaria who is departing after nearly a decade. Rice, who previously served as chairman of Walt Disney Television, will oversee Netflix's content strategy, including series, films, and live events, starting October 26. Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 and was named chief content officer in January 2023, during which time the company released popular titles like "Bridgerton" and "Squid Game." The leadership change comes a day after Netflix announced it was laying off approximately 1,000 employees, about 6% of its workforce, amid ongoing concerns about user engagement and sustained growth.