Netflix Taps Instacart Comms Chief for Warner Bros. Battle

Instacart’s Dani Dudeck is taking the top communications job at Netflix. She arrives as the streamer navigates its massive $83 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and a hostile counter-offer from a rival.

• Trial by fire: Dudeck, a veteran of Zynga and MySpace, is stepping into a corporate tug-of-war. Her appointment comes as Netflix faces a hostile takeover attempt for WBD from Paramount, a conflict that will help determine the future of Hollywood. In a statement, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Dudeck is known for "shaping narratives that meaningfully influence culture, business, and stakeholder trust."

• A new reel: A core part of Dudeck's role will be managing the narrative around a major strategic pivot for the streaming-first company. In a recent letter to employees, Netflix co-CEOs committed to preserving theatrical releases for Warner Bros. films, stating, “We haven’t prioritized theatrical in the past because that wasn’t our business at Netflix. When this deal closes, we will be in that business.”

Dudeck's hiring signals Netflix is gearing up for a protracted communications war on multiple fronts—with regulators, Wall Street, and Hollywood—as it attempts to close the largest deal in its history and transform itself into a modern studio titan.

The move is making waves in the public relations industry, where Dudeck is a high-profile figure. Meanwhile, the battle for WBD is heating up as Paramount's chief is reportedly taking his pitch directly to shareholders. The current two-way fight comes after other potential suitors, including Comcast, previously bowed out of the bidding.