Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings makes shock exit, sending shares tumbling

Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings is leaving the streaming service he co-founded 29 years ago as the company regains its footing after it lost its $72 billion deal for Warner Bros Discovery.In a letter to investors released on Thursday, Netflix said Hastings will not stand for re-election at its annual meeting in June and plans to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.The company’s stock plunged around 8% on the news of Hastings’ departure.The company’s co-founder is credited with helping to revolutionize how movies and television shows are delivered in homes, upending Hollywood’s business model.“As the company enters a new era without Reed Hastings, advertising will play a bigger role,” said eMarketer senior analyst Ross Benes.

“There’s no better time to amplify an ads business than right now with the upfronts looming.”Netflix reaffirmed in a 14-page shareholder letter that its mission remains “ambitious and unchanged” – to entertain the world, providing movies and series for many tastes, cultures and languages.The company’s full-year outlook remained unchanged.The company did not say how it plans to spend the $2.8 billion termination fee it received after losing the Warner Bros movie studio and HBO, and lifted its earnings per share to $1.23 in the first quarter compared with 66 cents per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue rose to $12.25 billion, an increase of 16% from the year-ago period, modestly exceeding analyst forecasts of $12.18 billion.Netflix, which long told investors that a Warner Bros acquisition was a “nice to have, not need to have” proposition, highlighted areas of future growth.The company said its investment in expanding its entertainment offerings with video podcasts, and live entertainment – such as the World Baseball Classic in Japan – is fueling engagement.

It plans to use technology to improve the user experience and improve monetization, as advertising revenue remains on track to reach $3 ...