Netflix Taps Apple Veteran to Drive Podcast Expansion Amid Staff Cuts

Netflix subscribers can expect a more aggressive push toward audio and video podcast content as the streamer brings in Steve Wilson, a former Apple executive, to head up podcast acquisitions. Wilson will begin his tenure as a consultant, a role that signals Netflix is treating its podcast strategy with new administrative seriousness while it navigates a period of internal restructuring.

The appointment was confirmed by Netflix and first reported by Bloomberg. Wilson’s hiring comes at a moment of transition for the company, which recently announced it would cut approximately 6 percent of its global workforce. That reduction amounts to roughly 1,000 jobs, marking the largest staff reduction at Netflix since 2022. The company stated it was reviewing areas where it was "overinvested" and trimming its upper ranks in the process.

Wilson brings 15 years of experience from Apple, where he worked in editorial, partner relations, and marketing for Apple Podcasts. His most recent roles included serving as chief strategy officer at QCODE and working at Daylight Media, a podcast and creator content company, from which he departed recently. His background in managing podcast ecosystems at a major tech firm positions him to oversee content deals for Netflix.

The streamer entered the podcast space in earnest in November 2025. In October of that year, Netflix announced a partnership with Spotify to license a select group of video podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer. Titles included in that initial deal were The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, The Rewatchables, and Conspiracy Theories. These agreements require exclusivity for the podcasts on the Netflix platform.

Since that initial partnership, Netflix has broadened its licensing deals to include content from iHeartMedia and Barstool. The company has also launched original productions, such as The Pete Davidson Show, and secured deals with creators including Jay Shetty and Charlemagne Tha God. Industry observers have suggested these moves are an attempt to compete with YouTube and capture audience attention during daytime hours when traditional streaming usage dips.

Despite the new leadership hire, Netflix has not yet released specific viewing statistics for its podcast library. The company has also not indicated a full-scale operational shift toward the medium, leaving the long-term scope of its audio strategy open to interpretation. The addition of Wilson to the team will serve as the primary mechanism for evaluating new content acquisitions in this sector.