Netflix Appoints Steve Wilson to Lead Podcast Acquisitions

Netflix has hired Steve Wilson to manage the acquisition of podcast content. The company confirmed the appointment on Sunday, marking a formal step in its growing investment in the audio and video medium. Wilson will begin his role as a consultant before potentially taking on a more permanent position.

Wilson brings extensive experience from the technology and media sectors. He spent 15 years at Apple, where his roles included editorial, partner relations, and marketing for Apple Podcasts. More recently, he served as chief strategy officer at QCODE and worked for Daylight Media, a company focused on podcast and creator content.

The hire coincides with significant internal changes at Netflix. The streamer recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 6 percent. This cut affects about 1,000 employees, making it the largest staff reduction at the company since 2022. Netflix stated that these layoffs are part of an examination of areas where the company is overinvested.

The reductions include senior leadership positions. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, film chief Dan Lin, and Vice President of Film Doug Belgrad are among those leaving. A series of high-ranking television executives are also exiting as part of a revamp in content strategy. This restructuring occurs while Netflix expands its podcast portfolio.

Netflix entered the podcast market aggressively in late 2025. In November of that year, the company announced a partnership with Spotify for a select number of video podcasts. This deal includes shows from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, such as The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, and The McShay Show. Netflix has also licensed content from iHeartMedia and Barstool, while launching original shows like The Pete Davidson Show and signing creators including Jay Shetty and Charlemagne Tha God.

Industry observers note that the exclusivity required for these podcasts aims to compete with YouTube and drive daytime viewership. However, Netflix has not yet released specific viewing statistics for its podcast content. The company has also not made a full-scale push into the medium beyond these initial acquisitions and partnerships.