Netflix appoints Peter Rice as chief content officer
Netflix announced that former Disney executive Peter Rice will become chief content officer on Oct. 26, succeeding Bela Bajaria.
Netflix said Peter Rice will assume the role of chief content officer on Oct. 26, taking charge of scripted and unscripted series, film and live events. Rice previously served as chairman of Walt Disney Television and chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company before leaving Disney in June 2022. He was later appointed head of ceremonies and content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games in July 2025.
"Peter is one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry. His business acumen is sharp, his talent relationships are exceptionally strong, and his experience across TV and film is deep and broad," said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix.
Rice, who has held senior positions at Fox Searchlight, Fox Networks Group and Disney’s television division, noted that Netflix continues to take risks on distinctive voices and fresh ideas. > "Netflix has fundamentally changed the way stories are made, shared and experienced around the world. They’ve shown again and again that they’re willing to take chances on distinctive voices and fresh ideas, and I’m excited to work with the team to help bring even more great stories to members everywhere," he said.
The appointment follows the departure of Bela Bajaria, who left Netflix after a decade overseeing the expansion of unscripted programming, live events and sports content. An internal email from Sarandos highlighted Bajaria’s contributions and announced the leadership change.
Rice’s recent work includes producing the film "The Social Reckoning," which opened last weekend. He joins Netflix as it seeks to maintain its scale of content production and expand its global storytelling portfolio.