Netflix on Wednesday announced its hiring of executive Verna Myers to deal with its diversity problem, the company announced in a press release.
The move comes two months after the online video streaming giant fired its chief spokesman for racially insensitive remarks. Myers, a diversity consultant, is charged with including "cultural diversity, inclusion and equity" into Netflix's quickly growing operations worldwide, according to the statement.
Jonathan Friedland stepped down in June following "insensitive" comments he made to colleagues, including use of the N-word on at least two occasions.
Myers is a Harvard Law School graduate who will be "an invaluable champion of our efforts," said Jessica Neal, head of hiring at Netflix.
Netflix has been making a push toward inclusion over the past two years, and has spent much of the past year revising its training across the company, per Bloomberg News. Earlier this year, the company started an initiative, called "Strong Black Lead," to call attention to projects with African-Americans in key roles.
The company ranks last among 10 studios in its hiring of film and TV directors that are women or minorities, according to a study by the Directors Guild of America.
"I have been a longtime fan of the inclusive and diverse programming and talent at Netflix, and then I got a chance to meet the people behind the screen," Myers said in a statement. "I was so impressed by their mission, their excellence, and decision to take their inclusion and diversity efforts to a higher level.
"I am so excited and look forward to collaborating all across Netflix to establish bold innovative frameworks and practices that will attract, fully develop, and sustain high performing diverse teams."
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