Netflix Splits Scripted Series Unit Into Genre Pods
Jinny Howe reorganised the U.S.-Canada scripted team into genre-specific pods, promoting Cole Galvin to VP and Neil Thomas to director.
Netflix has restructured its U.S.-Canada scripted series division into genre-specific pods, with head of U.S.-Canada scripted series Jinny Howe leading the reorganisation, according to Deadline. Cole Galvin has been promoted from director to vice president and will lead a Drama, Thriller & YA pod, while Neil Thomas has been promoted to director of Studio Scripted Series.
Michael Azzolino, vice president of drama development, heads a Genre, Action & Crime pod covering action, sci-fi, horror, Westerns, spy dramas and crime. Comedy, overseen by Tracey Pakosta, is being split between a commercial comedy lane and an auteur-driven lane.
The restructuring was planned before Netflix's recent layoffs, Deadline reported. On the previous Wednesday the company cut 1,000 employees, including director and manager-level executives in scripted series.
Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria exited the following day and was replaced by Peter Rice, and Dan Lin, Netflix's head of film, was ousted over the weekend. Rice is reported to have discussed working with Howe.
Over the weekend Netflix also gave a two-season order to the series project The Apology starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
Quick answers
Who leads Netflix's new genre pods?
Cole Galvin leads Drama, Thriller & YA, and Michael Azzolino heads Genre, Action & Crime. Comedy is split into two lanes under Tracey Pakosta.
Was the restructuring planned before the layoffs?
Yes, Deadline reported that the reorganisation was planned before Netflix's recent round of layoffs.