Netflix hires Warner marketing executive

Continuing to add more Hollywood talent to its executive ranks, Silicon Valley giant Netflix has hired Warner Bros.’ veteran Kelly Bennett as its chief marketing officer.

Bennett worked for nine years at the Burbank studio, most recently as vice president of interactive, worldwide marketing, where he oversaw international online advertising campaigns for a wide range of films including the current release “The Dark Knight Rises.”

He replaces 12-year Netflix veteran Leslie Kilgore, who left in January following a very troubled 2011 marked most notably by the abandoned attempt to create a new DVD brand called Qwikster.

Bennett is the second executive with deep studio roots to be added to Netflix’s senior management team, along with chief communications officer Jonathan Friedland, who joined from the Walt Disney Co. last year.

Bennett’s experience in international marketing could prove useful as Netflix, which already operates in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Britain and Ireland, prepares to launch later this year in a second European country, which people close to the company speculate could be Spain.

Before his current role, Bennett oversaw digital marketing for Warner Bros.’ movies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings may talk more about the company’s expansion plans when it releases financial results Tuesday.

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