Sweeney joins Netflix board

Former Disney-ABC Television president Anne Sweeney has joined the board of streaming service Netflix.

Sweeney was in charge of The Walt Disney Company’s television operations when it scored a major original production deal with Netflix in October 2013, and now joins the SVOD platform’s board.

Sweeney exited Disney in January after 11 years running its cable, broadcaster and international channels. She has more than 30 years’ experience in senior posts at TV firms, including a run as CEO and chairman of FX Networks and 12 years at Viacom-owned Nickelodeon.

Netflix wants to use her experience to guide its international roll-out, with the plan to be in more than 200 territories by end-2016 well underway already.

Microsoft’s executive VP and general counsel, Brad Smith, is also joining the Netflix board, which now totals nine executives.

“We look forward to benefitting from Brad and Anne’s perspective as we continue to build our global internet TV network,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive.

Ben Sherwood has replaced Sweeney at the top of Disney-ABC.