Netflix Hires Dani Dudeck as Chief Communications Officer (EXCLUSIVE)

Netflix has appointed Dani Dudeck as chief communications officer.

She starts on Jan. 12 and will report to co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Netflix’s prior CCO Rachel Whetstone, who was hired in 2018, departed the post in March. Dudeck is joining Netflix from Instacart, where she serves as chief corporate affairs officer. She’s also held posts at Zynga and MySpace.

Dudeck’s hiring comes amid Netflix’s $82.7 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Sarandos and co-CEO Greg Peters have reiterated to employees that they feel “confident” that Netflix will get the regulatory approvals — and fend off Paramount’s hostile, all-cash counter-bid — that are needed to cinch the mega deal. Although Netflix has pledged to “to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations and build on its strengths,” including theatrical releases for films, the closing of this deal would dramatically reshape the future of the entertainment industry.

“Dani Dudeck has worked with some of the world’s fastest growing companies over the last two decades,” Sarandos said in a statement. “Dani is known for building high-performing global teams and shaping narratives that meaningfully influence culture, business, and stakeholder trust and we are excited to be welcoming her to Netflix.”

Dudeck praised Netflix for redefining “entertainment through its relentless creativity, technological innovation, and unwavering commitment to great storytelling.” She said she looks forward to “contributing to a company that creates such meaningful cultural and economic impact, while bringing joy, curiosity, and connection to hundreds of millions of people globally.”

“I’m inspired by the vision and ambition that Ted, Greg, and the entire team bring to their work every day as they advance Netflix’s mission of entertaining the world,” Dudeck said. “The teams at Netflix are among the hardest-working and most inventive in entertainment and technology, and — 28 years in — they’re still expanding the boundaries of what’s possible. I’m energized for what’s ahead and look forward to joining the team next month.”