New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- Netflix's shock decision to fire Bela Bajaria, its chief content officer, has raised questions about whether the streaming giant is looking for a scapegoat as it struggles to accelerate growth. Bajaria, who spent nearly a decade at the company, was instrumental in expanding its global presence, investing in local-language productions and bringing live sports and entertainment to the platform.

Her departure comes days before Netflix reports its third-quarter earnings, following slower audience engagement, a sharp decline in its stock and layoffs affecting around 1,000 employees. The company has appointed veteran entertainment executive Peter Rice as her replacement.

Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 after a career span...