Mahima Kaul signs off from Netflix after leading public policy in India

DELHI: From policy to pause. Mahima Kaul, director of public policy at Netflix India, has announced her departure from the streamer. Kaul led the company’s public policy function in India after earlier stints at Twitter and Bumble, and her exit comes as the streaming giant announces layoffs.

In a LinkedIn post, Kaul said she was grateful for the opportunity to establish Netflix’s global affairs function in India, build partnerships and skilling programmes, and advocate for the media and entertainment (M&E) sector.

It is a CV with range. Kaul said her last three roles involved leading policy teams at Twitter, Bumble and Netflix, an opportunity to work with companies operating across different parts of the technology and digital ecosystem. Her work involved engaging with governments and navigating policy questions around the role of digital intermediaries and content publishers, as well as the evolving relationship between technology, society and media.

She also looked ahead. Kaul highlighted the growing tensions as emerging technologies reshape the digital landscape, noting the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and a new generation of content creators on how people consume information and form their worldviews. Her comments come as technology platforms and the M&E industry navigate changing regulatory expectations, the growth of AI-driven services and shifts in content creation and consumption.

The timing is notable. Netflix is planning to cut around 1,000 jobs globally, roughly 6 per cent of its workforce, in its largest round of layoffs since 2022. The company is reassessing resource allocation amid pressure on growth and viewer engagement, and as cost-cutting continues across the technology and entertainment industries.

Co-chief executive officers Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos told employees of the planned cuts in an email on Wednesday morning, with most reductions expected to affect the product, technology, legal and human resources teams.

There is precedent. In 2022, Netflix eliminated around 150 jobs in May and another 300 in June, citing the need to align cost growth with slower revenue growth while continuing to invest in the business, following its first quarterly subscriber decline in more than a decade.

As for Kaul, the next chapter is unhurried. She plans to spend time reading and writing after leaving Netflix, while remaining open to conversations and new opportunities. Before Netflix, she held public policy leadership roles at Twitter and Bumble, working at the intersection of technology, public policy and society.