Netflix has hired former Universal Television president Bela Bajaria as its new vice president of content, the streaming service announced Wednesday.
In her new role, Bajaria will lead a team focused on TV and film licensing from major U.S. studios, as well as co-production relationships with major U.S. networks. She will also oversee a new team developing original unscripted programs for Netflix.
“Bela is a great creative television executive with broad experience and deep industry relationships,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said. “Having worked closely with her on ‘Master of None’ and ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ we know we have found the perfect executive to lead this new effort.”
As president of Universal Television, Bajaria oversaw creative programming for the studio and producing such hit series as “Master of None” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” for Netflix; “The Mindy Project” for Fox and Hulu; “Superstore” for NBC and “Bates Motel” for A&E, among others.
She also developed “Pure Genius” for CBS and “The Good Place” for NBC, which are on the network’s 2016 fall schedules.
Earlier, Bajaria held two key posts simultaneously: senior vice president of cable programming for CBS TV Studios, and senior vice president of movies and miniseries for the CBS network.
“I am looking forward to joining Netflix, an innovative company that supports creative vision and fosters risk taking. Having worked closely with Ted, Cindy and the team, I know they are great creative partners and care deeply about the experience of talent, their partners and their members,” Bajaria said. “They are a dynamic group and I’m looking forward to continue building new partnerships at Netflix with amazing talent and studio and network colleagues.”
Bajaria starts at Netflix on Nov. 1.
Bajaria has served as President of the industry organization Hollywood Radio & Television Society. She supports SAHARA, a non-profit organization that serves victims of domestic violence. Additionally, she is an executive board member of the Television Academy and serves on the board of Los Angeles’ Saban Community Clinic.
Bajaria resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.