Johannesburg – Netflix has retrenched Ben Amadasun, its vice-president of content for the Middle East and Africa, after seven years with the streaming giant, as the company undertakes a major restructuring affecting approximately 1,000 employees worldwide.
According to MyBroadband, Amadasun’s departure is part of cuts affecting about 6% of Netflix’s workforce. The Nigerian executive joined the company in 2019 as director of content acquisitions and co-productions for Africa before rising to vice-president in August 2023.
Kaye Ann Williams, Netflix’s director of scripted content for sub-Saharan Africa, will take over responsibility for the streaming platform’s content strategy in South Africa and the wider continent, the publication reported.
The development comes as Netflix reshuffles its senior leadership amid concerns about slowing audience engagement, growing competition and pressure to deliver more successful films and television series.
🟢⚡JUST IN: Netflix has laid off Ben Amadasun, the Nigerian executive who led its African content for seven years.
>> The cuts hit roughly 6% of the global workforce, about 1,000 people. https://t.co/wPO9MuOiWh
— S H ⚡ C K Africa (@Shockng) October 20, 2026
The Los Angeles Times reported that the job cuts followed a period of slower growth in viewing hours, despite increased spending on content. Netflix’s co-chief executives, Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, said in a staff memo that the company needed to be more disciplined in allocating its resources.
“Our mission — to entertain the world — is ambitious, and delivering on it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritize our people and resources,” the executives said.
The restructuring has also claimed other senior executives. The Los Angeles Times reported that chief content officer Bela Bajaria left the company, while Variety reported the departure of film chief Dan Lin.
Despite the leadership changes, Netflix’s African content operations appear set to continue. MyBroadband reported that Amadasun’s exit was not expected to affect the company’s investment in original African productions.
In September, Netflix marked 10 years in South Africa by announcing new local productions and partnerships. According to a Netflix announcement published by Publicnow, the company said its partnerships with more than 30 local production companies had supported over 8,000 jobs.
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At the anniversary event, Amadasun said: “Over the past decade, South Africa has become our number one filming destination in sub-Saharan Africa.”
He also said Netflix had partnered with more than 30 South African production companies and produced and licensed over 300 original titles across Africa, according to MyBroadband.
The executive changes come as Netflix reassesses its growth strategy. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the company’s latest financial results showed revenue growth, but a weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter profit forecast and a reduced advertising revenue projection raised further concerns about its outlook.
Amadasun’s departure therefore marks a significant change in Netflix’s African content leadership at a time when the streaming company is balancing global cost-cutting with its commitment to developing stories for international audiences.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
