Netflix parts ways with a key ad exec in a leadership shake-up. Read the leaked memo from its ad chief.

Amy Reinhard, Netflix's advertizing president. Katie Jones/Variety via Getty Images

Netflix is shaking up its ads leadership.

Jon Whitticom, a prominent Netflix exec who helped build the streamer's advertizing business, is leaving the organization, according to a memo viewed by Business Insider.

Advertising president Amy Reinhard shared the news pinch unit past week, saying she had "decided to portion ways" pinch Whitticom. She added that ads merchandise exec Marc Heneghan would lead the portion connected an interim ground while a hunt is conducted for Whitticom's replacement.

"At Netflix, we expect our leaders to build and support trust, stock discourse generously, collaborate cross-functionally, and cultivate an situation wherever group tin do their champion work," she wrote. "Jon and I person discussed these needs straight complete time, and my determination reflects this modular now and going forward."

The ads business is 1 of the cardinal levers Netflix is leaning connected for growth, on pinch unrecorded sports and creator content, arsenic Wall Street worries astir the streamer's US engagement maturation slowing. The company said this twelvemonth that successful countries wherever it offers an ads tier, much than 60% of caller subscribers take its cheaper, ad-supported plan.

Whitticom, Netflix's VP of ads product, started arsenic an advertisement level advisor successful early 2023. His assignment was intimately watched because of its imaginable to thief Netflix determine really to level up its then-nascent advertizing business. He antecedently was main merchandise serviceman astatine Comcast-owned advertisement startup FreeWheel.

Under Whitticom, Netflix built retired its advertisement tech and enabled advertisers to bargain its ads done different companies for illustration Google, The Trade Desk, and Magnite. The buildout has besides had bumps on the way, pinch multiple activity changes and competing soul visions complete really to turn the business.

"Speed sewage america from zero to one," Reinhard wrote successful her memo. "Getting to what's adjacent intends knowing erstwhile to move accelerated and really to do it together."

Netflix has said it expects to deed $3 cardinal successful advertisement gross this year, astir doubling its 2025 haul. The institution is besides introducing caller advertisement formats and expanded ways for advertisers to bargain inventory, Reinhard said successful an announcement concluding its Upfront income process, wherever TV companies transportation large advertisers for extended advertisement deals.

Here's the afloat memo from Reinhard:

Team,I wanted to fto you cognize astir a activity alteration I'm making to amended bespeak the needs of the business and the maturation up successful Ads.After observant consideration, I've decided to portion ways pinch Jon Whitticom, and coming will beryllium his past day. Jon helped build Ads Product from the crushed up and led the motorboat of the Netflix Ads Suite past year, a awesome milestone for our business and Netflix. I'm grateful for each his contributions complete the past two-plus years.At Netflix, we expect our leaders to build and support trust, stock discourse generously, collaborate cross-functionally, and cultivate an situation wherever group tin do their champion work. Jon and I person discussed these needs straight complete time, and my determination reflects this modular now and going forward. Speed sewage america from zero to one. Getting to what's adjacent intends knowing erstwhile to move accelerated and really to do it together.Marc Heneghan will lead Ads Product connected an interim ground while I instantly statesman an outer hunt for a caller leader. All of Jon's directs will now study to Marc.There's ne'er a bully infinitesimal for a alteration for illustration this; I cognize it often carries consequence and disruption. But I besides cognize this squad is resilient and our instauration is strong. What isn't changing are our priorities arsenic a business, aliases my assurance successful this team's expertise to enactment focused connected the bigger image and support our momentum connected our near-term deliverables.I will big abstracted sessions pinch the Ads Product squad and the Ads Platform teams to talk done our way guardant and reply immoderate questions. Those teams should look retired for a almanac induce to subordinate a session.Please subordinate maine successful thanking Jon and wishing him the champion successful the future.Best,Amy