Netflix Alums Shake Up Streaming Landscape, Join Top Rivals

Over the past month, Netflix has seen several of its top creative executives depart the company to join rival streaming platforms. Cindy Holland, Netflix's former VP of Original Content for English-language programming, has been named Chair of Direct-to-Consumer at Paramount, overseeing the company's Paramount+ and Pluto TV platforms. Meanwhile, her former lieutenant Peter Friedlander, who rose to Head of UCAN Scripted Series at Netflix, has become Head of Global TV at Prime Video supplier Amazon MGM Studios.

These are not just ordinary Netflix alums, but rather the single-digit number of executives who were instrumental in shaping the streamer's original series strategy under then-Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. Now, they will be bringing their expertise to top competitors, validating the success of Netflix's early original programming efforts.

The trio, which also includes former Netflix executives Nina Wolarsky and Jane Wiseman, were behind some of the streamer's biggest hits, such as "Orange Is the New Black," "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Bridgerton." While Wolarsky remains at Netflix through her role at Plan B, the other three will now be competing directly with their former employer, with Wiseman serving as EVP and Head of Originals at Paramount+.