Netflix, an Internet television network, has appointed Anne Sweeney, recently co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television at the Walt Disney Co., and Brad Smith, general counsel, legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft, to its board of directors. Sweeney's and Smith's appointment bring the total number of directors to nine and expand the breadth of its global and entertainment experience.

Sweeney’s entertainment experience spans more than three decades including senior roles at the Walt Disney, 21st Century Fox, and Viacom. Until she stepped down in January, she oversaw Disney’s cable, broadcast and satellite properties around the world since 2004. Previously, she helped establish, and served as chairman and CEO of, the FX Networks, part of the Fox Entertainment Group of 21st Century Fox. Earlier in her career, she spent more than 12 years at Viacom’s Nickelodeon network.

Smith, who has served as Microsoft?s general counsel since 2002, has amassed broad global technology and public policy experience since joining the company in 1993. He spent three years leading the company’s legal and corporate affairs team in Europe and five years as deputy general counsel responsible for such teams outside the United States. His area of expertise includes competition law, intellectual property, government surveillance, and privacy.

Topics