Netflix Appoints Strive Masiyiwa To Los Gatos Company’s Board

LOS GATOS, CA — Netflix announced earlier this month the appointment of telecom billionaire and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa to its board of directors.

The Zimbabwean businessman, who also serves on the board of Stanford University, is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Global.

“Netflix is at the forefront of bringing great entertainment from anywhere in the world to everyone in the world, and I look forward to working with the board and all stakeholders to continue its traditions of innovation and growth," Masiyiwa said in a statement.

The streaming behemoth’s announcement follows the news that Susan Rice was stepping down from the board to join the Biden administration, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Rice will serve as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council according to the report.

"We are delighted to welcome Strive to the Netflix board," Netflix co-founder, Chairman and co-CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement.

"His entrepreneurship and vision in building businesses across Africa and beyond will bring valuable insights and experience to our board as we work to improve and serve more members all around the world."

Strive also serves on several international boards including Unilever Plc, National Geographic Society, Asia Society, and the Global Advisory boards of Bank of America, the Council on Foreign Relations (in the US), the Prince of Wales Trust for Africa, and is a longstanding board member of the United States Holocaust Museum's Committee on Conscience.

He is a former board member of the Rockefeller Foundation for 15 years and current Chairman Emeritus of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and also serves as an African Union Special Envoy to the continent's COVID response.

His addition to Netflix’s board comes amid the Los Gatos-based company’s plans to more deeply penetrate overseas markets, including those in Africa, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a statement.

"I'm thrilled to have Strive join our board as we expand more across Africa and the world,” Sarandos said.