Podcast Push: Netflix Hires Apple Veteran

Netflix is betting on a former Apple executive to steer its growing podcast division while simultaneously shrinking its overall workforce. Steve Wilson, a veteran of the tech industry, will advise the streamer on its content strategy. The company confirmed the appointment on Sunday. Bloomberg first reported the news.

Wilson will serve as a consultant and take charge of acquiring podcast content. He spent 15 years at Apple, where he worked in editorial, partner relations, and marketing for Apple Podcasts. Most recently, he left Daylight Media, a podcast and creator content firm. Before that, he served as chief strategy officer at QCODE.

The hiring comes at a moment of transition for Netflix. The company announced plans to cut approximately 6 percent of its staff, a reduction of about 1,000 people. This marks the largest staff reduction at the company since 2022. Netflix stated that the cuts reflect an examination of areas where the company was overinvested. The restructuring also removed several senior leaders, including chief content officer Bela Bajaria, film chief Dan Lin, and VP of film Doug Belgrad. A number of high-ranking television executives were also affected as the company revamped its content strategy.

Netflix began its push into podcasts in November 2025 with a partnership with Spotify. The deal includes a select number of video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer. Titles in the initial agreement include The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, The Rewatchables, and Conspiracy Theories. Since that announcement, the streamer has expanded its licensing deals to include iHeartMedia and Barstool. Netflix has also launched original productions, such as The Pete Davidson Show, and signed new creators including Jay Shetty and Charlemagne Tha God.

The strategy requires exclusivity for these podcasts on the Netflix platform. Industry observers have largely viewed this move 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 offerings. The company has not yet made a full-scale investment in the medium beyond these initial partnerships and originals.

Wilson’s role focuses on acquiring content for this expanding section of the platform. His background in editorial and partner relations at Apple provides experience in managing creator relationships. The addition of a dedicated acquisition lead suggests the company intends to maintain its focus on podcasts despite the broader organizational downsizing. Netflix will continue to integrate these audio and video podcasts into its existing streaming service.