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Netflix says it named Zimbabwean telecom billionaire Strive Masiyiwa in its directory.
Masiyiwa is the founder of the Econet Group, which has operations and investments in 29 countries in Africa and beyond, including Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe’s leading mobile operator; Liquid Telecom, the pan-African broadband company and its subsidiary Africa Data Centers, the fast-growing data center company, which just raised $ 300 million from the development finance arm of the US government.
“Netflix is at the forefront of providing excellent 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,” Strive Masiyiwa said in the statement.
Like other big tech corporations in the US, Netflix would have been willing to add or retain some diversity to its directory. In March 2018, he appointed the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser Susan Rice to his board, but last week he resigned to join the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Masiyiwa is effectively replacing Rice and, as he currently stands, would be the only recognized person of color on the board along with four women and seven other men, including Co-CEOs Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos.
In July 2018, Twitter added former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to its directory.
Netflix has been expanding its influence in Africa rapidly in the last year as it releases a series of original African shows and movies directed by talents and producers from South Africa and Nigeria. It has been trying to find ways to make its service more accessible and affordable, particularly in most African countries, where watching videos through the use of the Internet is sometimes discouraged by cost or poor quality.
“I am delighted that Strive is joining our board as we expand further throughout Africa and the world,” said Sarandos.
Despite his success in business life and entrepreneurship, Masiyiwa, who also sits on Unilever’s board of directors and Bank of America’s global advisory board, has had conflicts with his country’s government on several occasions. Zimbabwean regulators have effectively shut down his company’s operations with internet shutdowns to curb political activists or restrict the dominant mobile money operations of its Econet Wireless during its currency crises.
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