Spotify Podcast Executive To Exit

Max Cutler, a Spotify executive who oversaw the streaming service’s audio talk shows and partnerships, is exiting the company, according to Bloomberg.

Cutler’s departure comes just a month after that of Dawn Ostroff, who spearheaded the company’s expansion into podcasts. Spotify also laid off 6% of its staff last month, or about 600 employees, in an effort to cut costs.

Cutler co-founded the scripted podcast network Parcast, which was acquired by Spotify in 2019. At Spotify, he oversaw exclusive podcasts deals with Joe Rogan, Emma Chamberlain and Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy.” Julie McNamara, who leads the company’s global podcast studios, will take over leadership of licensed podcast exclusives, according to Variety.

Max Cutler

With Cutler’s pending departure, Julie McNamara will now take over leadership of Spotify’s exclusive licensing deals with creators like Rogan, Cooper and Chamberlain in addition to continuing to lead original content and major studio partnerships. Bryan Thoensen, who joined Spotify late last year from TikTok and initially reported up to Cutler, will oversee content partnerships with third-party creators. And Bill Simmons, who was promoted last May to lead Spotify’s sports content and strategy outside of the U.S., will be responsible for podcast monetization across Spotify’s portfolio of content. He will continue to lead The Ringer.

McNamara, Thoensen and Simmons will all report up to Sahar Elhabashi, the head of Spotify’s podcast business; Elhabashi reports up to Norström, whose purview includes Spotify’s content business.