Netflix has appointed former Google executive Breno Barcelos as Head of Market Activation for Latin America as part of its strategy to expand its ad-supported tier and sports streaming offerings. Meanwhile, Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has increased its stake in the streaming giant. The company's investment narrative centres on monetising its global audience through subscriptions and advertising whilst managing content costs. Netflix's ad-supported tier represents a key catalyst for scaling higher-margin advertising revenue atop its subscriber base. Analyst projections vary significantly. The narrative forecast projects $65.5 billion in revenue and $19.8 billion in earnings by 2029, implying a fair value of $94.04 per share. However, more cautious analysts estimate revenue of $63.1 billion and earnings of $16.9 billion over the same period, citing concerns about ad scale and engagement risks.

Mattel strengthens commitments to CP, music and strategy. Mattel has announced is strengthening the leadership team behind its brand-centric growth strategy with three senior appointments across music, consumer products, and strategy and operations. Samantha Juneman, Gerardo Leon, and Rahul Lakhwani will join the company on August 31, adding capabilities designed to expand how Mattel builds, commercializes, and scales its brands. Natalia Premovic, Chief Consumer Products and Experiences Officer, today announced their hire via LinkedIn. Samantha Juneman joins as Head of Music, reporting to Natalia Premovic, Chief Consumer Products and Experiences Officer. Juneman will lead Mattel's efforts to build music into a more strategic franchise and commercial platform across content, products, marketing, and experiences. She brings more than 15 years of music and entertainment experience and most recently led legacy artist management at Iconic for a roster that includes Wu-Tang Clan, Cher, and The Beach Boys. Gerardo Leon joins as Head of Consumer Products for the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reporting to Meredith Norrie, Head of Global Consumer Products. Leon returns to Mattel after five years at Netflix, where he led strategy and business development for major retail partners including Walmart, Target, and Amazon, and established the company's food and beverage and beauty licensing practices. His appointment strengthens Mattel's ability to develop larger, cross-category franchise programs with strategic retailers and brand partners. Rahul Lakhwani joins as Head of Strategy and Operations for Consumer Products and Experiences, reporting to Premovic. Lakhwani will help translate the organization's strategy into clear portfolio priorities, stronger operating discipline, and scalable execution. He brings more than a decade of experience across consumer products, entertainment, and gaming, most recently leading strategy for Fever Originals' global portfolio of live experiences. Together, these appointments reflect Mattel's continued investment in the specialized leadership and capabilities needed to turn its brands into broader cultural and commercial platforms and accelerate long-term, fan-focused growth.