By Tribune Staff
NASHVILLE, TN — When a corporation loses one of its top board members they are often hard to place, particularly when they depart for a job in Washington as part of a new administration. But Netflix has found a replacement for Susan Rice on its board of directors. He is a major figure in global cinema, African billionaire and telecom mogul Strive Masiyiwa. The announcement was made last week and featured in multiple entertainment magazines and on various websites.
“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.”
Masiyiwa is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Global, the South Africa-based telecom group with business across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His appointment signals the importance of international markets, including Africa, for Netflix as it looks to grow its subscriber base beyond the U.S. and Europe. “I’m thrilled to have Strive join our board as we expand more across Africa and the world,” co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a statement.
Rice, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama, stepped down from the streamer’s board on Dec. 10 after more than two years. Her new role will be director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Born in Zimbabwe and educated in the U.K., Masiyiwa, 59, founded Econet Global in 1998 to provide mobile phone services in Botswana and Zimbabwe. He sits on several other boards, including Unilever, National Geographic Society and Stanford University.
“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.
