Biography
David Karanja is a Kenyan-American film and television executive with extensive experience in both fiction and nonfiction content.
He served as the Head of Licensed Originals and Licensing for Africa at Netflix, where he was responsible for overseeing licensed originals and content acquisition strategies across the region. In this role, David led the acquisition, creative development, and project management of numerous influential series and films, including Kenya's first original series, "Country Queen," and the inaugural original film, "Disconnect: The Wedding Planner." He also spearheaded the first Afrikaans title, "Ludik," for South Africa, and creatively guided acclaimed projects from South Africa and Nigeria, such as "Queenstown Kings," "Black Book," and "Lobola Man," as well as series like "Shanty Town" and "Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre."
With expertise in content acquisition strategy, license agreement negotiation, and creative execution, David has developed comprehensive licensing strategies for sub-Saharan Africa, significantly enhancing member acquisition for Netflix. He has built strong partnerships with leading creatives and collaborated with distribution companies to expand the platform's diverse content offerings.
Before leading licensing at Netflix Africa, David was a key contributor as a Creative Executive on the nonfiction series team at Netflix, where he provided creative insights for projects like "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," "Motel Makeover," "Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean," and "Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan," while also advocating for the licensing of "Love on the Spectrum."
David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and TV Development and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The Ohio State University. He is a strategic and innovative executive shaping the future of content acquisition and development in the industry.
