Netflix Splits US Drama Team in Two Under Jinny Howe

Netflix is splitting its drama development for the United States and Canada into two genre teams.

The reorganisation is the first big change under Jinny Howe, head of UCAN Scripted Series. UCAN is industry shorthand for the US and Canada. Scripted means dramas and other shows with written scripts, as opposed to reality or documentaries.

Under the new set-up, drama will be developed in two pods, meaning small teams organised by type of show. One pod covers Drama, Thriller and YA, meaning young-adult stories. It will be led by Cole Galvin. The other covers Genre, Action and Crime. It will be led by Michael Azzolino. Both executives report directly to Howe, according to Deadline.

The plan brings two promotions. Galvin moves up from Director to vice-president. Neil Thomas has been named Director as part of the same reshuffle.

There are further reporting lines inside the pods. Lindsey Springer, the former Media Res president of scripted who joined Netflix in August, will report to Galvin. The tentpole and IP team led by Teddy Biaselli stays with Azzolino. Tentpole and IP is the term for big, expensive shows often based on known books, films or other existing properties.

Azzolino has overseen the drama team as vice-president of drama development since January 2025. He keeps that seniority in the new structure, now with a defined slice of genres to run.

Howe took charge of the US-Canada scripted group at the end of August 2025. She succeeded Peter Friedlander, who stepped down after nearly 14 years at the company, according to C21Media. Howe joined Netflix in 2018 as vice-president of drama series and has since received four promotions.

For viewers, the change sits behind the screen. These are the teams that decide which scripts get developed, which pilots and series get ordered, and which writers’ rooms and crews of hundreds get to work. A straight-to-series order, meaning no pilot is shot first, or a cancellation can turn on those calls.