From August 2018 to August 2019, the big wigs of the tech firm sold 1,021,199 shares to the tune of $219.178 million. The chief communications officer brought with her key international experience as Netflix expanded onto a larger global stage, as well as a cool head in a crisis. Peters, who has been chief product officer since 2017, was handed the extra chief-operating-officer duties in July. Based out of the company's Amsterdam offices, Ferreras oversees all Netflix's partnerships, such as its pacts with telecoms like Orange and Sky that have helped the company grow its footprint in Europe. Holmes joined Netflix in 2008 by way of the video-technology company DivX, Inc., where he was responsible for its partnerships and co-marketing with consumer-electronic brands. Gagan's role within Netflix has become pivotal as original content plays a larger role within the business. Allyship has been happening forever. The same share of women made up Netflix's overall leadership, directors and above, as of October, according to a January report by the company. The two have overseen Netflix’s major expansion into original comedy specials. Netflix has 9,400 employees across 14 locations and $25 B in annual revenue in FY 2020. Netflix places more emphasis on whether a show is uplifting, somber or redemptive than on genre or who the director is. But in rare, extensive interviews that explored that criticism as well as a controversy over pay equity, Lisa Nishimura, Netflix’s vice president of original documentary and comedy programming, and Robbie Praw, its director of original stand-up comedy, the most powerful gatekeepers in stand-up, tell a different story, one in which iconoclasm, new metrics and abiding faith in the algorithm disrupt the stale conventions of an industry. Jessica Neal oversees culture, recruiting, and human resources for Netflix, which employs more than 9,400 staffers around the world. A police case has been filed this week against two top executives of the American streaming service in India after […] Netflix, which has invested more than $500 million to gain a … Before Netflix, Whetstone was vice president of communications at Facebook during Cambridge Analytica and other scandals, Uber during its Travis Kalanick days, and Google for a decade including when the European Union was trying to limit the tech company's power in search. About 48% of the group, or 11 of its 23 members, identify as women, a company spokesperson confirmed. Netflix's Stranger Things is a perfect example of this. This may be partly why Netflix is putting a premium on the global market, recently hiring an Amsterdam-based executive to recruit international comics. Allison Wright, vice president of talent, leads the human-resources teams that support the production, animation, and HR groups at Netflix, which gives her a direct line into each of those business units. As vice president of studio operations, a role she took on last year, her purview includes Netflix's physical production, production facilities, and creative services like casting and intellectual-property management. It won’t release audience information to the news media or comics, who would love to know who watches their specials to plan tours. Other executives include Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer and co-CEO, Director; Rachel Whetstone, Chief Communications Officer and 21 others. And she oversaw Netflix's recent foray into unscripted originals with shows like "Queer Eye" and "Nailed It.". But when you made specials readily available, Ms. Nishimura noticed there was an enthusiastic untapped market. Kim was one of Netflix's earliest content execs in Asia, first based out of Singapore. In addition to overseeing Netflix's film slate, Stuber has continued to experiment with theatrical distribution, releasing some films in theaters for short windows or on the same day they're released on streaming, even amid the pandemic. On June 9, 2017, season 5 was premiered and the sixth season premiered on … And he's responsible for studio technology including tools that help creators tell interactive stories like "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. It told investors this year for the first time that it expects to break even with cash flow and be cash-flow positive after 2021. The idea that it would take over the world hardly seems far-fetched. She previously led business development for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Netflix, before taking on the expanded remit as global lead. Netflix executives are acknowledging that new streaming services like Disney+, WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock will likely impact the … The report also highlighted that Hispanic or Latinx and other groups were still underrepresented among leadership.Among the Lstaff, 5 employees (21%) identified as BIPOC. He started his career in Spain, where he worked at media conglomerate Grupo Zeta, network Antena 3 Television, and distributor Aurum Producciones. When we launched our first TV shows in 2013 like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, we aspired to tell stories that weren’t available elsewhere.Not only in terms of the variety we offered, but also the people and cultures we brought to the screen. She is also the steward of the company's controversial corporate culture, which has been characterized by radical "freedom and responsibility" and groundbreaking policies like unlimited vacation, but also by brutal transparency as described in a 2018 Wall Street Journal report. “Now there’s clubs in Korea.”. Wanna go?”, He did, and years later, he joined her again, not only agreeing to release his first standup special in 13 years on Netflix, but also following that with three more in 2017. Kim previously built out Netflix's first slate of original programming in Korea, including shows like the zombie period drama "Kingdom" that amassed big audiences locally and abroad. Introduction from Verna Myers: When we're talking about being an ally towards someone, it's not a new idea. But it’s unclear if these outlets will spend tens of millions of dollars on stand-up. Ramos is focused on bringing in more local-language programming from regions from Mexico to Spain, where Netflix established its first European production hub and birthed global franchises like "Money Heist.". Maria Ferreras knows the ins and outs of Netflix's business relationships, as the company's global head of business development. Vernā Myers. She joined Netflix in 2008, when Netflix had just introduced streaming and before it started commissioning its own programming. Get a sneak peek below, and view the exclusive interactive chart on BI Prime . Over the past decade, Netflix took on billions in debt and burned through cash to foot its content bill. Peters had some experience with this already, having helped launch and leading Netflix Japan earlier in his career. Robbie Praw and Lisa Nishimura last month in Los Angeles. Ramos joined Netflix in 2017 and was promoted to vice president of Latin American content in 2019. Black lives matter. Netflix has a special team of business leaders who debate the company's biggest decisions. "Eventually he needs to know every corner of Netflix better than I do today.". Peters has been with Netflix since 2008. But Myers also wrote in the same report that the company still needs to do better recruiting Hispanic or Latinx and other underrepresented talent, and learning more about inclusion outside of the US. He helped prove that Netflix could compete with storied movie and TV studios like HBO and Disney, not only in buzz but in critical acclaim. When asked if Netflix has a responsibility to do better, Mr. Praw said: “I think we have a responsibility, but it’s also what our members want.”. Earlier this year, the African-American stand-up comic Mo’Nique called for a boycott of Netflix, accusing the streaming service of discriminating against black female comedians by paying less for their specials than their peers’. Vice President, Inclusion Strategy. Vernā Myers joined Netflix in 2018 to spearhead its inclusion strategy. It wasn’t long ago when it seemed ridiculous that a DVD rental company would dominate American stand-up. … Netflix has since moved from small-budget indies like "Beasts of No Nation" and goofball comedies from Adam Sandler, to more Oscar-worthy fare like "The Two Popes" and "Marriage Story." The two have overseen Netflix’s major expansion into original comedy specials. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, … She has since made her mark on the content team, restructuring the growing division to include units responsible for big franchises, events, and overall deals, in addition to genres like dramas, comedies, and unscripted series. Recently, Netflix has been driving the market for international content. This team helped shaped recent company moves, like the decisions to open an office in Canada and to invest $100 million in Black-led banks and financial institutions, a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to Insider. Account active Before she became the steward of the Netflix brand, Saint John earned a reputation during her 20-year career for her ability to tie brands like Pepsi and Apple to cultural trends, as Insider reported. In comedy circles, the most common criticism of Netflix is that in releasing so many specials, it’s oversaturating the market, making it more difficult for comics who aren’t superstars to break out. We're not afraid to fail; it's all about learning. Yurechko spent nine years at Deloitte Consulting before he came to Netflix in 2011. He's since had a mandate to spend more time at Netflix's various offices around the world to improve how the teams work together, a responsibility that previously fell to co-CEO Reed Hastings. Since our discussion, Netflix has announced that Tiffany Haddish and Ms. Sykes will release specials through the service next year. “But there are moments in time when they are in the exact same taste cluster. Recent executive movements at Netflix. Hyman oversees the company's licensing and talent deals, an acquired skill set that Netflix opened a production legal lab to train young lawyers for; legal issues as varied as a lawsuit over the depiction of Sherlock Holmes in "Enola Holmes" and a charge against Netflix in Texas tied to the film "Cuties"; and helps the company navigate the legal waters abroad. The group known internally as the "Lstaff " — the L stands for leadership — sits between the company's officers and its larger executive staff of vice presidents and above that are called the "Estaff.". Since joining Netflix from video-game publisher Activision Blizzard in 2018, Neumann has pushed the company toward self-funding its operations, a milestone Netflix's rising stock suggests investors are looking forward to as well. Next year, the service will release 47 half-hour specials in seven different languages on the same day. Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. As a leader, Hastings has said he prides himself as making as few decisions for the company as possible, preferring to empower employees to make what they think are the best choices for the business. I even have a previous film (Confessions of a Prodigal Son) that did well on Netflix. Business Insider identified the 54 most influential executives within Netflix and their roles within the organization. Listen to the audio version here. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. Saint John, who will publish a memoir in 2022, hasn't spoken much publicly about her plans to reshape Netflix's marketing approach. “We started to hear from artist and managers that they were feeling something almost instantly,” Ms. Nishimura said. She joined the streaming company in 2016, after it expanded its service to much of the globe. since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. Bajaria was promoted after content chief Ted Sarandos became co-CEO in 2020 and shook up the ranks in part to reflect Netflix's growing global focus. By signing up A-listers (Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock), turning rising talent into stars (Ali Wong and Hannah Gadsby) and radically expanding the volume of new content, Netflix has transformed the stand-up special into the bustling center of popular culture. The former Googler joined Netflix in 2017 after a decade as director of partnerships for YouTube for Southern Europe and emerging markets. This "Lstaff" helped shaped recent moves like the decisions to. They typically meet a few times a year for a full day during Netflix's Quarterly Business Reviews, which are for employees that are director-level and above. But less than 2% of top executives at the 50 largest companies are Black. He recently said his team is looking in 2021 for more documentary films and series, among other programming. Comedy Central has shown signs of being more aggressive, recently signing Anthony Jeselnik to a deal and announcing a stand-up month in January with four new one-hour specials and a digital new-faces series. She's held workshops, for example, to train executives to identify their own privileges and how their experiences could influence their viewpoints. She's also known as outspoken and a role model for women of color, who are largely underrepresented in the senior ranks of corporations. “We go into the data.”. Engineering vice president Mark White runs the group responsible for the content-discovery experience on Netflix. She joins many high-profile executives who have defected from the House of Mouse to Netflix in recent years, among them Jermaine Turner and Darla Anderson. It published in January a report that detailed its progress among representation of women and Black talent in top roles. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. He led international development in an earlier role, where he helped build relationships between the streaming company and consumer-electronics manufacturers, internet providers, and TV operators. Before Netflix, she spent three years at Twitter where she was in charge of content partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, worked at NBCUniversal in France and entertainment company CJ E&M in Korea, and got her start in the industry at an independent TV company. The service attracted nearly 87 million subscribers in its first 13 months, at the high end of the range that Disney executives were hoping to have signed up by 2024. Netflix has been vocal about its efforts to improve representation on screen and within its ranks. She spent nearly 12 years before Netflix at Paramount Pictures, most recently as president of worldwide TV licensing and distribution. Asked if Netflix can continue to offer huge sums, Ms. Nishimura replied, “If we continue to grow the audience, we’re O.K.”. Ms. Nishimura said she thought Netflix stand-up would soon get more competition. Meet the 23 Netflix execs in the Lstaff below. His team also oversees content strategy and analysis, which includes determining the appropriate budget for a project, assessing its performance, and analyzing what Netflix's competitors are up to. In this new venture, they may upend another bit of common wisdom — that comedy has trouble crossing borders. Stuber brings with him Hollywood connections, as well as a working knowledge of both the executive and creative worlds. In a rare discussion of a Netflix show's ratings, Netflix executives have commented that the show is Netflix's most-watched original series. Hastings, who founded and sold software startup Pure Software before Netflix, brings his tech and business acumen to the entertainment firm while Sarandos has helped chart its course as a content company. To conduct the study, Netflix executives approached University of Southern California professor Stacy L. Smith and her team at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which has worked on many influential studies of representation in Hollywood. When Netflix started developing original content, Ms. Nishimura’s experience helped make the case to bet big on comedy. It also said it doesn't expect to need any more outside financing beyond its $15.8 billion long-term debt load. Neal is a Netflix veteran, who has been with the company since 2006, minus a four-year detour at ed-tech company Coursera and then mobile-gaming publisher Scopely. A California judge issued an injunction against Netflix prohibiting the streaming-video giant from trying to hire Fox television and film executives who are under contract. Francisco Ramos is a seasoned TV exec who is responsible for Netflix's content across Latin America, including both original and licensed fare. Netflix's deals with electronics makers are key to it landing distribution on all the major devices around the world, and have been foundational in emerging markets like Brazil to building a market for streaming video. Netflix commissioned a diversity study of its movies and TV shows that showed improvement in representation from 2018 to 2019, but gaps still remain. Over dinner at an Italian restaurant last month, Ms. Nishimura, 47, projected casual charisma in jeans and glasses, shifting between comedy nerd chatter and Silicon Valley-speak. Sarandos architected Netflix's rise in original programming, launching its first slate of original programming in 2013. Ms. Nishimura said the breakout Hannah Gadsby show, “Nanette,” also appeals to fans of the documentary “Wild Wild Country”: Both explore “what motivates people under pressure.”. In only a few years, the streaming giant has pushed aside HBO as the home of prestige stand-up and made Comedy Central seem like Comedy Marginal. Netflix executive Vernā Myers shares how the streamer improved Black representation at the company and the efforts it is making to improve diversity on its shows and staff. A group of executives heads to a telecommunications retreat to pick the firm's new CEO until they find themselves in a contest to win -- and stay alive. He cofounded the business in 1997 and has run it as CEO for much of his tenure. Amy Reinhard is a key content exec at Netflix who oversees studio operations and consumer products. Mr. Praw, 37, warm but more cautious, sat next to her, listening in awe as she explained perhaps her greatest coup, persuading Mr. Chappelle to return to a national platform. Bryony Gagan oversees all of Netflix's content deals. Hastings was instrumental in company-defining and industry-leading moves, like formalizing Netflix's workplace culture around the tenets of "freedom and responsibility.". TV exec Bela Bajaria. Both execs are also in the Lstaff. He joined the company as it was preparing to go public. Apple’s list of sellers may be shorter than Netflix’s but its executives sold way more equities. Across corporate America, a 2020 McKinsey report showed that women made up 28% of senior-vice-president positions and 21% of C-suite execs. Yellin, who is a former filmmaker and critic, has been with Netflix for 15 years and held his current role since 2014. Their strategy is rooted in the belief that Netflix doesn’t need to choose between quality and quantity, that the eternal showbiz question of whether to go for mass or prestige is a false choice. She oversees the company's labor relations, music business and legal affairs, and intellectual property groups, as well. Netflix has expanded its lobbying efforts in the region as it boosts production there in part to comply with EU policy that mandates at least 30% of its content originates from Europe, and responds to local regulators calling for a "Netflix tax" on streaming revenues, as The Hollywood Reporter has detailed. She spearheaded the colicensing model that saw series like the CW's "Riverdale" and CBS's "Star Trek: Discovery" branded as Netflix originals outside of the US. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider He was also on the US president's Trade Advisory Council under both President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. Bill Holmes helped forge many of Netflix's relationships with consumer-electronics giants like Apple, Samsung, and Sony. Bajaria previously oversaw non-English TV originals at Netflix. Maria Ferreras, who was Vice President, Business Development Europe, Middle East and Africa, Maria, is promoted to Global Head Business Development (news posted on February 17 2021).