Netflix expands in Europe, brings in two originals, hires 400

Netflix expands in Europe, brings in two originals, hires 400

MUMBAI: Netflix, the world’s leading global internet TV service, has announced the creation of 400 jobs at its new European customer service hub which opened this week in Amsterdam. Supporting customers across 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the UK), the multilingual hub will employ initially a workforce of 170, growing to 345 by the end of 2017 and surpassing 400 by the end of 2018.*

Amsterdam is the location also of Netflix’s recently expanded European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, which has doubled its workforce since the beginning of 2016.** More than 120 employees from 18 countries work at the EMEA HQ in business development, marketing, PR, public policy and corporate functions such as finance, legal and recruiting.

The ongoing expansion of Netflix’s workforce in Europe complements the company’s ever-growing investment in European productions (licensed, original and co-productions). Marking the global launch last month of Las Chicas del Cable, Netflix’s first original series from Spain, the company confirmed plans to announce at least six new European original projects before the end of 2017. The first of these, Dogs of Berlin, was announced on 28 April and will be written, produced and shot in Germany before launching in 2018. The second, a new French original called Osmosis, was announced today and is expected to begin production in France in 2018. Netflix has committed more than $1.75 billion to European productions since entering Europe in 2012, including to date more than 90 original productions in various stages of development.

“We are delighted to announce the creation of jobs in Europe and the opening of our new customer service hub in Amsterdam, as well as two new European original series. Europe is a creative centre for great storytelling that resonates around the world and we continue to invest in European content,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO.

“The decision by Netflix to add a customer support centre along with its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam illustrates that our business climate is exactly what leading companies are seeking when investing in their future,” said Jeroen Nijland, Commissioner for Foreign Investment, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). “The Netherlands' fast internet speeds, e-commerce strengths and multilingual talent pool make our country a great match for the Netflix expansion to support its rapidly growing European market.”

*Netflix’s new European customer service hub in Amsterdam is the latest addition to the company's growing portfolio of internal service centers, the others being located in the USA (Salt Lake City and Utah) and Yokohama, Japan.

Netflix’s European original series are available to Netflix’s more than 100 million members around the world and include:

Marseille, Netflix’s first original series from France, now in production for a second season;
the Golden Globe-winning The Crown set in the UK, now in production for a second season;
Las Chicas del Cable, Netflix’s first original series from Spain, launched 28 April and already in production for a second season;
Dark, Netflix’s first original series from Germany, due to launch late 2017;
Suburra, Netflix’s first original series from Italy, due to launch late 2017;
Dogs of Berlin, Netflix’s second original series from Germany, due to launch in 2018; and
Osmosis, Netflix’s second original series from France, due to begin production in 2018.