Netflix names Susan Rice, former Obama official, to board

Netflix has appointed Susan Rice, a former U.S. national security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations, to its board of directors, the company announced Wednesday.

"We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Rice to the Netflix board," Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings, said in a statement. "For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity and insight and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom."

The former ambassador’s most recent government role was under former President Barack Obama, where she provided him with the daily national security briefing, and directed the staff of the National Security Council from 2013-2017. Prior to that, she was the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations from 2009-2013.

"I am thrilled to be joining the board of directors of Netflix, a cutting-edge company whose leadership, high-quality productions, and unique culture I deeply admire," Rice said in a statement.

Netflix has been attracting many high-profile names to its catalog, which could soon include Obama himself. The former president is reportedly in “advanced negotiations” with the streaming entertainment service where he and his wife, Michelle, would be paid to produce a series of shows, according to The New York Times.

Obama does not intend to use the platform – which boasts more than 117 million members in nearly 200 countries – to directly respond to President Donald Trump or other conservatives, a source familiar with the matter told the Times.

“President and Mrs. Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire,” Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, told the Times. “Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.”