Netflix Appoints Instacart Exec Kelly Pakula as VP Global Comms
Netflix hires Instacart exec Kelly Pakula as VP Global Communications, signaling investment in strategic comms leadership and Asia-Pacific regional capacity.
Netflix has appointed Kelly Pakula as VP of Global Corporate Communications, the streaming company confirmed. Pakula joins from Instacart, where she spent more than seven years, and will report directly to Chief Communications Officer Dani Dudeck.
A Second Instacart Hire Under CCO Dani Dudeck
Dudeck herself joined Netflix as CCO in December, having previously served as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Instacart. Pakula reported to Dudeck at Instacart before following her to Netflix.
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"I've long admired Netflix and its mission to entertain the world and I'm thrilled to join CCO Dani Dudeck and her talented global leadership team," Pakula said. Notably, when Dudeck departed Instacart, the company announced it would not replace her position.
Pakula brings a cross-sector career spanning PR agency work at Shift Communications, gaming company Zynga, and e-commerce platform Instacart. She was named to PRWeek's 40 Under 40 class of 2023.
Netflix's Regional Communications Structure
Pakula's global role sits above a team of four regional communications heads. Netflix's current geography-based structure includes Emily Feingold covering the US, Oliver Rawlins covering EMEA, Flavia Vigio covering Latin America, and Joy Albert covering Asia-Pacific.
This arrangement places global narrative oversight with Pakula, while regional teams handle local market execution. Netflix is simultaneously recruiting a Manager of APAC Pan-Regional Communications, with responsibilities spanning advertising, partnerships, and corporate priorities across the region.
The dual hiring signals Netflix is investing in both its strategic leadership layer and its regional execution capacity in Asia at the same time.
Netflix's Financial Context and Industry Hiring Trends
The appointment comes as Netflix reports strong growth. The company posted Q4 2024 revenue of US$12.1 billion, up 18% year-over-year, with net income of US$2.42 billion. Netflix projects full-year 2026 revenue of US$50.7 billion to US$51.7 billion, with advertising revenue expected to roughly double compared to the prior year.
Active Netflix job postings list salary ranges of US$656,000 to US$1.2 million for senior director-level communications roles, reflecting the premium streaming platforms are placing on communications talent.
Netflix is not alone in building out its communications leadership. Apple TV+ is concurrently recruiting a Manager of Corporate Communications requiring 10 or more years of film, TV, studio, or streaming PR experience.
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Pakula's Background and Instacart Tenure
Before joining Netflix, Pakula led communications strategy at Instacart across corporate, financial, crisis, and product areas. Her work included overseeing key launches such as Instacart Health and the Instacart Platform.
"As someone who went from renting VHS tapes as a kid from my family friend's store, Video City in Chino Hills, to getting DVDs delivered in the mail from Netflix, to now having the opportunity to join the most innovative company in entertainment, I could not be more excited to dig in," Pakula said.
She began her new role on Monday.
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