Netflix Exec Bela Bajaria Joins Coca-Cola Company's Board of Directors

By Jack Dunn

The Coca-Cola Company has named Netflix‘s chief content officer Bela Bajaria the latest member of its board of directors. Her role is effective immediately and brings Coca-Cola’s board membership to 12.

At Netflix, Bajaria oversees all film and television for the streamer in all languages and manages the spending of its $17 billion annual content budget. She reports directly to co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

“Bela brings a wealth of experience in global business, from building and leading teams to setting strategy,” said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Her deep background in media also promises to provide our board and leadership with valuable perspective as Coca-Cola continues to evolve and strengthen its marketing model.”

Bajaria joins sitting board members Quincey, Allen & Co. president Herb Allen, Banco Santander executive chair Ana Botín, Davis Selected Advisers chairman Christopher C. Davis, Permira senior advisor Carolyn Everson, president of Spelman College Helene D. Gayle, Markel Group CEO Thomas Gayner, chief executive officer of WE Family Offices Maria Elena Lagomasino, Coca-Cola Company director Amity Millhiser, tech advisor Caroline Tsay and Judd Enterprises chief executive officer David B. Weinberg.

Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016. Before she was chief content officer, Bajaria was head of global TV, overseeing some of the streamer’s most popular scripted and unscripted series, such as “Squid Game,” “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Bridgerton,” “La Casa de Papel” and “Cobra Kai.”

Before Netflix, Bajaria was senior vice president at CBS Entertainment, managing the network’s cable studio. She also served as president of Universal Television.