Netflix Hires Steve Wilson to Direct Podcast Acquisition Strategy

Netflix has appointed former Apple executive Steve Wilson to lead its podcast acquisition efforts.

The company confirmed Wilson will serve as a consultant responsible for securing new podcast content. Bloomberg initially reported the hiring news. This role positions him to manage the financial and creative terms of future deals within the streaming division.

Wilson brings fifteen years of experience from Apple, where he worked in editorial, partner relations, and show marketing for Apple Podcasts. He most recently served as chief strategy officer at QCODE before joining Daylight Media, a podcast and creator content company. His background provides Netflix with direct expertise in negotiating with established audio brands and creators.

The appointment coincides with a major restructuring of Netflix's operations. The company announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 6 percent, eliminating about 1,000 jobs. This marks the largest staff cut at the company since 2022. Netflix stated the reductions reflect an examination of areas where it was overinvested, leading to the departure of high-level executives including chief content officer Bela Bajaria, film chief Dan Lin, and VP of film Doug Belgrad.

Netflix entered the podcast market significantly in November 2025 through a partnership with Spotify. That agreement covers 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. The company has since expanded its library by licensing content from iHeartMedia and Barstool. It also launched original productions such as The Pete Davidson Show and signed creators including Jay Shetty and Charlemagne Tha God.

These moves require exclusivity for the acquired podcasts on the Netflix platform. Industry observers view this strategy as a direct challenge to YouTube and an attempt to capture viewer attention during daytime hours. However, Netflix has not released specific viewing statistics for its podcast offerings, nor has it indicated a full-scale expansion beyond the current slate of licensed and original audio content.