UPDATED November 13, 2:59 p.m., with exclusive details: Netflix VP Film Niija Kuykendall is the latest executive out at the streamer amid staff trimming heading into the holidays.
We hear that Kuykendall will depart after a transition period through the end of the year. No next destination was disclosed.
Sources tell us the departure comes amidst the continued realignment of Netflix’s ‘pod’ system of executive oversight since Dan Lin took over the streamer’s top film post from Scott Stuber earlier this year — a system that has executives responsible for oversight of particular genres.
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With Netflix for nearly three years, Kuykendall has had oversight of faith-based, YA and holiday films. Amidst her departure, YA will move over the comedies and rom-coms pod led by Jason Young, who we’ve learned exclusively has been promoted to VP Film. In more news, faith-based and holiday films will move over to the drama/thrillers pod led by Kira Goldberg.
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In a statement shared with Deadline, Netflix VP Film Doug Belgrad paid tribute to Kuykendall, saying, “Niija’s creative relationships with established and upcoming filmmakers, like Tyler Perry, Denzel and Malcolm Washington, and David Yates, have had a great impact on our film slate. I want to thank her for her many contributions, including films such as The Piano Lesson, The Deliverance, The Six Triple Eight, Pain Hustlers and Mea Culpa.”
Prior to her time at Netflix, Kuykendall worked for 13 and a half years as Executive Vice President, Film Production at Warner Bros Pictures. News of her impending exit follows a few other one-off departures. Edith Mendoza Alva exited after a three-year stint as Director, Comedy, Original Series, with the non-scripted division’s Damla Dogan and Todd Hurvitz also leaving. A round of layoffs in the company’s publicity department also took place early last month.
Prior to his promotion, Young worked for Netflix for five and a half years as Director of Original Film. He came to the role following two stints working at Twentieth Century Fox and two years in production at Zac Efron’s company, Ninjas Runnin’ Wild.