Netflix appoints Peter Rice content chief

Netflix has appointed Peter Rice as its new Chief Content Officer, announcing the leadership change on Oct. 15, 2026. Rice will formally assume the role on Oct. 26, 2026, taking charge of the company’s global content organization. The move marks a significant shift in the team responsible for shaping what appears on the streaming service worldwide.

The appointment comes as Bela Bajaria, who has led Netflix’s content efforts in recent years, departs the company. Bajaria has been with Netflix for nearly ten years and has served as Chief Content Officer since early 2023. During her tenure, she led the global content team and was central to building the service’s slate across regions.

In his new position, Rice will oversee Netflix’s entire content operation, spanning scripted and unscripted series, films and live events. His remit covers all regions, placing him at the center of decisions about the service’s programming mix and strategic priorities in entertainment formats.

Rice brings experience from senior posts at major media companies. He previously served as chairman of general entertainment at Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and earlier as president of 21st Century Fox. At Disney, he most recently oversaw cable channels, news programming and coverage of major sporting events, giving him broad exposure to large-scale content operations.

Bajaria’s exit ends nearly a decade at Netflix, during which she moved into the Chief Content Officer role in early 2023. She had been responsible for the company’s global content team, helping to steer the expansion of series and films for the streaming platform.

The company said Bajaria is leaving immediately, with Rice set to take over the content organization the following week. This timing creates a relatively swift transition at the top of the content hierarchy, as oversight of programming decisions moves from Bajaria to Rice.

Co-CEO Ted Sarandos praised Rice as “one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry” in the announcement. He said he is excited to welcome Rice as Chief Content Officer as Netflix continues to scale and deliver more stories that resonate with its members.

In an internal memo, Sarandos described the leadership change as an opportunity to take Netflix’s slate to the next level. With Rice’s background in general entertainment, cable networks and live event coverage, the company is positioning his appointment as a step toward further developing its global content offering.