Netflix Film Exec Niija Kuykendall Departing At End Of Year

Netflix VP Film Niija Kuykendall is the latest executive out at the streamer amid staff trimming heading into the holidays.

Whether Kuykendall was terminated or is leaving of her own accord wasn’t made clear, but she’ll depart after a transition period through the end of the year. No next destination was disclosed.

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.”

Under Netflix’s new film administration led by Dan Lin, Kuykendall had oversight of faith-based, YA and holiday films. Her exit comes after almost three years at the company. Prior to her time at Netflix, she worked for 13 and a half years as Executive Vice President, Film Production at Warner Bros Pictures.

News of Kuykendall’s impending exit follows a few 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.