Marian Lee has been named as Netflix’s new chief marketing officer, succeeding Bozoma Saint John, who is departing the company. Saint John took over as CMO of Netflix in June 2020, replacing Jackie Lee-Joe, who left for personal reasons. In September 2019, Lee-Joe, a former marketing executive at BBC Studios, took over as Netflix’s new chief marketing officer, replacing Kelly Bennett, who has been with the company for a long period. Bennett had been with the organisation for seven years when he decided to leave. Bozoma’s exit from Netflix has been hailed as amicable and mutual.
“I came to Netflix with a surplus of enthusiasm and creative energy and am immensely proud of the campaigns we inspired that sparked global conversations. It’s been a transformative two-year experience for which I will always be grateful,” said Bozoma.
Lee is Netflix’s fourth chief marketing officer since 2019, and her appointment comes as the streaming service faces increased competition. Lee joined Netflix in July 2021 as Vice President of Marketing for the United States and Canada, where she is responsible for all marketing initiatives for Netflix films and programmes in those areas. Lee worked at Spotify for eight years before joining Netflix, as well as at Condé Nast and J. Crew.
“Netflix is an incredible brand with the best content and creative teams in the world. I’m certain that our most exciting work is yet to come, and I’m honoured to lead this world-class global marketing team into the future, continuing to link our outstanding shows and films with viewers all around the world,” mentioned Lee.
Marian Lee is a strategic marketer with significant experience not only in entertainment but also more generally, having worked at fashion and media brands, according to Ted Sarandos, co-CEO and chief content officer. “She had an immediate impact on the marketing team when she joined Netflix last year, and she’s shown to be an extraordinary leader who understands how to generate conversations around brands and popular culture.”
In recent years, the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Global, Comcast, and WarnerMedia have all created their own streaming services, and Apple and Amazon have increased their expenditure on entertainment. As a result, the competition to draw viewers to Netflix’s programming and films is becoming more intense. Netflix, on the other hand, has the advantage of being a pioneer in the digital video industry.
Source: Variety, Ad Age
