A lawyer by training, Sergio Ezama has spent his entire career building the HR experience and global perspective that makes him the ideal person to serve as Netflix's Chief Talent Officer, a role he's held since September 2021. As CTO, Ezama leads all of the company’s HR efforts, including recruiting, culture, and coaching teams. A member of Netflix's management team, he reports to the company's COO and chief product officer Greg Peters.
For many, Ezama's appointment underscored the increasingly global nature of Netflix's workforce. He was raised in a traditional Spanish home with three brothers in Bilbao, Spain. But over the years, he's worked from countries all over the world.
And Netflix isn’t the first big name company for Ezama.
Prior to joining the streamer, he spent 20 years with PepsiCo, one of the world's most recognizable names in food and beverage. During this time, he held more than 10 roles for the company in geographic and operational environments as diverse as the products the company produces. Most recently, he was global chief talent officer and chief human resources officer for functions and groups worldwide. In those positions, he led the company’s efforts across all talent-related areas in more than 200 countries.
Prior to undertaking those dual roles, the executive oversaw human capital agendas from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa, covering 65 different countries and 45,000 associates. Those numbers grew when Latin America was added to his portfolio, heading the HR agenda for $20 billion in revenue in nearly 100 countries.
For any Netflix employees who might prefer working outside of the office, Ezama's appointment is definitely a move in the right direction. During the pandemic, when Ezama was at PepsiCo, he was a staunch supporter of the permanent flexible-work model, in which employees decide with their managers how to split their time between the office and remote work.
Not surprisingly, Ezama holds numerous degrees. He received a bachelor’s degree and master's degree in juridical practice and human resources management — both from the University of Deusto. He also holds a master’s in health and safety management from Instituto Europeo de Salud y Bienestar Social. More recently, he became an Ivy League alum after completing the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.