Netflix brings back Disney publicity chief Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul to lead TV communications
Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul is returning to Netflix to run publicity for its television side. She starts on 18 October as vice-president of Communications, Series, reporting to chief communications officer Dani Dudeck. Deadline first reported the appointment on 1 October.
The job is about how shows are presented to the press and public. It covers scripted series, meaning dramas and comedies, as well as unscripted series, meaning reality and entertainment formats, plus documentary series. The brief also stretches beyond shows to consumer products and experiences, including Netflix House, and to newer areas such as live events, sports, games and creator-made output including podcasts.
Dudeck led the search for the role. Bulochnikov-Paul will sit alongside Katie Martin Kelly, who was brought in as vice-president of Communications, Film, with responsibility for film, animation, kids and family, licensing and anime.
She takes the Netflix post one day after leaving Disney, according to Variety. She had spent eight years at Disney. Her most recent title was executive vice-president of Communications for Disney Entertainment Television, where she had led TV communications since 2023.
That Disney remit was wide. It spanned ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney Kids & Family, Disney Television Studios, FX, Hulu Originals and National Geographic Content. It also included communications for platform distribution and Disney Global Advertising. In 2023, as executive vice-president, Publicity and head of Communications for Disney General Entertainment, she led executive communications for Dana Walden during Walden's tenure as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
It is a return trip. Bulochnikov-Paul first joined Disney as vice-president of communications at Freeform. She left for a nine-month stint at Netflix in 2018, then returned to Freeform before rising through senior publicity posts at ABC and Disney General Entertainment. Earlier in her career she worked at MTV Networks, Sony Pictures Television and Current TV, and served as vice-president of media and talent relations for Crackle.
For viewers at home, this is a behind-the-scenes change. A communications chief does not decide what gets made. The role runs the press teams across the organisation that announce orders, dates, casting and renewals.
She told Disney staff in a memo on Wednesday, 30 September that she was leaving for a new job opportunity, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Her departure was by her own choice and unrelated to Disney's restructuring, Variety reported. Dudeck said Bulochnikov-Paul brings 20 years of experience at the intersection of media and culture.
