Netflix ups Jinny Howe to head US, Canada scripted series as Peter Friedlander exits

Peter Friedlander is leaving his role as Netflix’s head of scripted series for the US and Canada (UCAN) after nearly 14 years at the company, with Jinny Howe being promoted to the position.

Peter Friedlander

Friedlander joined Netflix in 2011 as director of original series, making him the first creative executive on the originals team led by Cindy Holland that went on to greenlight influential shows such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Narcos.

Three years later he was promoted to VP of original series before being named head of UCAN series in 2021, overseeing all commissioning in the region.

During his time with the streaming giant, he and his team were also responsible for greenlighting titles such as The Queen’s Gambit, When They See Us, Mindhunter, Black Mirror, The Haunting of Hill House, Love, Death & Robots, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Cowboy Bebop and Three-Body Problem. Friedlander’s next moves have not yet been announced.

Howe, who was most recently head of drama series for UCAN, will report to chief content officer Bela Bajaria in her new role.

Howe arrived at the streamer in 2018 after working at John Wells Productions as executive VP and head of television. Her role and responsibilities have expanded on several occasions over the past few years. By the beginning of 2024, her drama-focused remit spanned current series, overall deals and licensed content before another promotion added oversight of spectacle and event series.

She has played an important part in Netflix originals including The Diplomat, Beef, Bridgerton, The Night Agent and Sirens.

Jinny Howe

“Joining as the very first employee on the original series team and witnessing this company’s incredible journey – growing into one of the most beloved entertainment brands in the world – has been the thrill of my career,” said Friedlander.

“I’m deeply grateful to Ted [Sarandos], Greg [Peters] and Bela [Bajaria] for the opportunity to work alongside them, and to all my colleagues and the incredible talent I’ve had the honour of working with, whose creativity and talent have inspired me every day. A special thanks to Jinny, my partner since she joined in 2018. Watching her rise has been a privilege, and I know I’m leaving the company in the best hands with her at the helm.”

Howe added: “Peter played a foundational role in shaping Netflix’s original series strategy, working on iconic shows that have defined our brand and captivated audiences worldwide. He’s not only a remarkable executive and producer, but an even better friend. I have no doubt he’ll achieve great success in whatever he chooses to do next.”