• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, October 28, 2020

Less than two months into her new job as Netflix's new vice president of global TV, Bela Bajaria has reorganized the U.S. TV operation.

The new structure, built around drama, comedy, event series, unscripted content and overall deals, consolidates a number of divisions. 

Fewer than 10 members of the series content team below the vice president level have been laid off as a result of the changes, according to Deadline.

Brian Wright -- who as vice president of young adult/family series department has worked with leading producers, including "Stranger Things" creators Matt and Ross Duffer -- has been promoted to head overall deals for original series. The young-adult unit will be consolidated into the drama and comedy teams. 

Jinny Howe and Renate Radford will lead the drama team, working on series across genres. Andy Weil has been named interim lead for  comedy, while a search for a new comedy head is conducted. Brandon Reigg will continue to lead unscripted.

Peter Friedlander, who led the Genre & Thrillers within the drama department, will now head a new Spectacle/Event programming department separate from drama and comedy.

The new U.S. division leaders -- Wright, Friedlander, Howe, Radford, Reigg, Weil and the new comedy head -- will report to Bajaria until she finds a new head of U.S. series.

There are also some changes in Netflix's international operations. Larry Tanz, vice president of EMEA originals, becomes head of EMEA local language original series, replacing Kelly Luegenbiehl, who has been promoted to head of global franchises. Luegenbiehl will seek to expand franchises, as she has already been doing with "The Witcher."

Annie Mensah remains head of U.K. series. Minyoung Kim, head of Korean originals, has added Southeast Asia and AZ/NZ to her responsibilities. John Derderian, vice president Japan/Hong Kong/Taiwan and anime content, and Monika Shergill, vice president India content, will continue to report to Bajaria. Francisco Ramos remains vice president Latin America originals and film.

With Netflix's U.S. subscriber growth expected to slow going forward, as saturation and competition play growing roles, the SVOD is intensifying its focus on international growth.

Bajaria was chosen to replace head of content Cindy Holland in September with that international focus and a desire for a tighter hierarchy in mind, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Earlier this month, Channing Dunge, vice president of original series, left Netflix. Dungey had reported to Holland.