Mike Verdu, the first head of Netflix's gaming division, has left the company
Mike Verdu is no longer working at Netflix. The top executive resigned just under four years after joining the company.
Mike Verdu. Photo by: Haje Kamps
Why Verdu decided to leave Netflix and what he plans to do next is unknown.
Verdu joined Netflix in August 2021. Under his leadership, the company began venturing into gaming. In the summer of 2024, he ceded his position to Epic Games veteran Alain Tascan and assumed the role of Vice President for GenAI for Games.
Before Netflix, Verdu served as the Vice President of Meta's* XR division for two and a half years. Earlier, he held executive positions at Electronic Arts, Kabam, Zynga, Atari, and several other companies.
A month ago, it was revealed that Netflix is seeking a general manager for its gaming division, with a salary offer of up to $1.3 million a year. This search comes amid significant company restructuring related to gaming. Notably, at the end of the previous year, Netflix shut down its AAA title development studio Team Blue, and in February, it canceled six games slated for release on its platform and conducted layoffs at Night School Studio.
*Meta is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia, and its activities are banned in the country.