Netflix is making some more changes to its leadership ahead of the new year.
Deadline reports the streaming giant has named Strive Masiyiwa — billionaire founder and chairman of telecom tech company Econet Group — to its board of directors.
“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’s appointment to the board follows the news of former United Nations U.S. ambassador Susan Rice’s departure from the streamer’s team.
According to Variety, Rice is relinquishing her board seat at Netflix to join president-elect Joe Biden’s administration on Jan. 20, 2021.
Masiyiwa previously launched his mobile phone network, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, in his native country back in 1998 after a years-long battle with Zimbabwe’s state-owned telecommunications operator, Variety shares.
He currently leads the company, which also has operations and investments in 29 countries spanning across Africa and Europe.
In response to Masiyiwa’s new appointment, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said, “I’m thrilled to have Strive join our board as we expand more across Africa and the world.”
Masiyiwa tacked onto the news with his own statement provided by Netflix:
“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.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Masiyiwa serves on several other boards, including Unilever, National Geographic Society, and Stanford University.
Additionally, Variety shares that he’s also a longstanding board member of the United States Holocaust Museum’s Committee on Conscience and a former member of the Rockefeller Foundation.
