Netflix’s Bajaria forms global team

Netflix’s recently appointed head of global TV, Bela Bajaria, has lined up her new management team but remains on the look-out for a head of US series and a comedy series chief.

Bela Bajaria

Bajaria, previously boss of Netflix’s local-language productions around the world, was recently given a new role overseeing global television at the streamer in a restructure that saw VP of original content Cindy Holland leave after almost two decades.

The former president of Universal Television has now formed her top team, which the streamer said reflects the global nature of her role and streamlines the structure in the US into comedy, drama and unscripted teams, with a new overall team.

Those who will now report to Bajaria include Larry Tanz, who has been named head of EMEA local-language original series, having previously been VP of original series in the region, and former Sky exec Anne Mensah, who remains head of UK series.

Kelly Luegenbiehl, who previously held the EMEA local-language role, has been named head of global franchises. She has been overseeing The Witcher at Netflix and her new job will encompass the expanding world of the franchise.

In APAC, Netflix’s Korea chief Minyoung Kim has had South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand added to her responsibilities.

Also reporting to Bajaria are John Derderian, VP for Japan/Hong Kong/Taiwan and anime content; Monika Shergill, VP for India content; and Francisco Ramos, who remains VP for Lat Am original series and film.

In the US, other executives will also report to Bajaria until she hires a new head of US series.

Larry Tanz

These include Brian Wright, who has been named head of overall deals, original series. Wright, who has worked with Ryan Murphy, The Duffer Brothers and 21 Laps Entertainment among others, will lead a new team who will work with the many high-profile overall deals at the streamer.

Wright’s previous work leading young-adult (YA) and family series will now be consolidated into the drama and comedy teams. Netflix confirmed that these genres will continue to be a priority.

Peter Friedlander has been named head of spectacle/event TV, having overseen creative on series including The Three-Body Problem, Black Mirror and Narcos. He will focus on high-concept spectacle-driven drama with high production values, Netflix said.

Jinny Howe, who previously worked on the character dramas and soap/Shondaland team, has been named head of drama, development, and Renate Radford, from the young adult/family/Ryan Murphy team, becomes head of drama, current.

Howe and Radford will lead drama series across genres including crime, thriller, YA, relationship and character-driven.

Minyoung Kim

Comedy series will be led by a head of comedy series, who is yet to be named, with Andy Weil serving as interim lead. Brandon Riegg continues as head of non-fiction series and comedy specials.

Jane Wiseman, the former head of comedy at the streamer, became the latest executive to leave the streamer following the managerial shake-up that saw Bajaria take up her new role.

Wiseman followed VP of original series Channing Dungey, who recently resurfaced as head of Warner Bros Television Group, out of the door along with VP of original series Nina Wolarsky and Holland.

Ted Sarandos, who was made co-CEO of Netflix in July, addressed the managerial shake-up at the streamer during Mipcom Online+ this month.

Sarandos said Bajaria’s new role signalled how important local-language original programming and unscripted television would be for the streamer over the next decade as it continues to grow its subscription base outside the US.