Ted Sarandos

Ted Sarandos was born in 1964 and he was the fourth of five children in a working-class family. From a young age, Sarandos developed a deep love for storytelling and cinema, which was sparked by frequent visits to the movie theater and avid television watching.
In 2000, Sarandos was recruited by Netflix founder Reed Hastings to serve as the company’s Chief Content Officer (CCO). At the time, Netflix was a small DVD-by-mail rental service with big ambitions. Sarandos played a pivotal role in expanding Netflix’s catalog and pivoting the company toward online streaming.

He championed data-driven decision-making, using viewer data to identify trends and preferences, which shaped Netflix’s original content strategy. Under his leadership, Netflix began investing in original programming, with the groundbreaking success of shows like House of Cards (2013) and Orange is the New Black (2013). These series established Netflix as a major player in Hollywood and redefined how audiences consumed media.

In July 2020, Sarandos was promoted to Co-CEO alongside Reed Hastings, while continuing his role as Chief Content Officer. As Co-CEO, Sarandos has overseen Netflix’s expansion into over 190 countries and its growth into a $200 billion company. His vision has driven Netflix to become the dominant force in streaming entertainment, with a library of award-winning films, series, and documentaries.

Sarandos has also been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in Netflix’s content and production teams, ensuring that the platform represents a wide range of voices and perspectives.

Sarandos has been named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and has been included in Variety’s “Business Visionaries” list.
Under his leadership, Netflix became the first streaming service to win major Academy Awards and Emmys, cementing its role in the future of entertainment.