Netflix Hires Apple Vet for Podcasts

One thousand employees lost their jobs at Netflix in October, yet the streamer simultaneously added a veteran industry executive to its podcast division. Steve Wilson, formerly of Apple Podcasts, will serve as a consultant to lead content acquisition for the platform.

Netflix confirmed the appointment on Sunday, following initial reports by Bloomberg. Wilson brings fifteen years of experience from Apple, where he handled editorial, partner relations, and show marketing. He most recently held the title of chief strategy officer at QCODE and previously worked at Daylight Media.

The hiring signals a continued focus on audio content despite a broader restructuring. The company recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by six percent. These cuts affected upper management, including chief content officer Bela Bajaria, film chief Dan Lin, and vice president of film Doug Belgrad. Netflix stated the reductions were necessary because the company was "overinvested in" certain areas.

Netflix entered the podcast market in November 2025 through a partnership with Spotify. That deal secured video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, The Rewatchables, and Conspiracy Theories. Since then, the streamer has licensed content from iHeartMedia and Barstool. It also launched original shows such as The Pete Davidson Show and signed deals with creators Jay Shetty and Charlemagne Tha God.

These agreements require exclusivity on the Netflix platform. Industry observers view this strategy as an effort to compete with YouTube and to attract viewers during daytime hours. However, Netflix has not released specific viewing statistics for its podcast library and has not launched a full-scale production push into the medium.

Wilson’s role is strictly advisory at this stage. He will advise on strategy and handle acquisitions, positioning him to influence future deals as the company evaluates its content portfolio. The streamer has not announced a specific timeline for Wilson to transition from a consulting role to a permanent position.