The defection this week of Hulu leader Kelly Campbell to become president of NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service has really brought out the disgruntled Hulu employees. Probably because I first broke the news on Twitter, staffers past and present quickly filled my DMs.
Since Disney took operational control in 2019, Hulu has become “toxic,” one mid-level executive said. “Total dysfunction,” messaged another, citing the layered management and the split of creative from distribution under Disney C.E.O. Bob Chapek’s re-org. A “brain drain” of executive talent and staff has ensued, noted two separate people. A lot of unhappiness and questions about the direction of the unit, it seems.
