Exclusive: Netflix taps new policy chief
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Clete Willems; Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix has tapped Clete Willems, a veteran D.C. trade attorney, as its chief global affairs officer, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Willems has experience working for both the Trump and Obama administrations. His global economic and trade policy expertise is essential to Netflix, which does business in more than 190 countries.
- Willems joins Netflix from Akin Gump, a prominent law and lobbying firm, after five years. He previously served as deputy assistant for international economics to President Trump in his first term and legal adviser and chief counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the Trump and Obama administrations.
Zoom out: Willems will only oversee the company's global policy strategy, not communications. Netflix was reportedly looking to combine both functions after former communications chief Rachel Whetstone and former vice president of public policy Dean Garfield departed in October.
- The company is still searching for someone to lead its communications efforts.
Zoom in: Willems will continue to be based in Washington and will report directly to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos beginning later this month.
- In a statement, Sarandos said Willems' "strong background in policy strategy and international relations will be key in guiding our global efforts."
- "His expertise will help Netflix engage effectively with leaders worldwide, advocating for policies that support continued investment, innovation and growth."
The big picture: Streamers have never had a unified voice in Washington, in part because their parent companies have such diverse interests.
- Netflix was part of the first major streaming industry alliance formed in 2023. While streamers like Paramount+, Max and Comcast's Peacock also joined the group, Big Tech firms like Apple and Amazon were noticeably missing.
- Netflix was the first streamer to join the Motion Picture Association, the trade group for top studios, in 2019. It previously was part of the now-defunct Internet Association, whose membership was broader and more focused on tech.
Between the lines: Consolidation within the entertainment industry has made it harder for any one company to feel fully represented by a single trade group. That's forced firms to invest more in their own lobbying efforts.
- Companies like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast/NBCU are part of a wide array of trade groups that represent everything from cable to broadband.
- These companies may be more impacted by certain policy changes than Netflix and vice versa.
- Studios like Disney, for example, are more exposed to a potential Chinese ban on Hollywood films in response to tariffs.
- In contrast, global policies that aim to make streamers pay more for internet bandwidth could have a larger effect on Netflix.
What to watch: Compared with other Big Tech companies, Netflix is less affected by U.S. tariffs because of its reliance on subscriptions over hardware sales.
Yes, but: Broader economic uncertainty is expected to hit the advertising market, where Netflix is looking to bolster its business. Netflix is also part of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).
