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Exclusive: Ex-Netflix communication chief joins AI startup Sierra

Exclusive: Ex-Netflix communication chief joins AI startup Sierra

Axios04-03-2025

Rachel Whetstone has joined Sierra, the AI startup founded by former Salesforce CEO and current OpenAI chair Bret Taylor and former Google executive Clay Bavor, Axios exclusively reports.
Why it matters: Whetstone previously led communications for four of the fastest growing companies of the past 40 years. She will be tasked with positioning Sierra to disrupt the customer service space.
Catch up quick: Whetstone most recently served as chief communications officer at Netflix, but exited late last year following an organizational restructuring.
Before joining Netflix in 2018, Whetstone oversaw communications for then-Facebook's WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger products. She also oversaw policy and communications at Uber and Google.
Whetstone started her career in British politics.
Details: Whetstone joined the the startup on March 3 and will oversee all communications.
Sierra, which builds custom AI agents for enterprise customer service, recently raised $175 million at a $4.5 billion valuation.
What she's saying:"I've been fascinated by AI since first hearing Larry Page talk about it at Google nearly 20 years ago," Whetstone told Axios.
"In my conversations with Bret and Clay, I've been inspired by their intensity and integrity, appreciated their sense of humor and excited about helping brands create great experiences their customers love — versus the 'oh god' feeling most of us have today when interacting with companies."
Between the lines: This is Whetstone's first time working for a startup and as a team of one.
"It's about how comms can help create a strong brand for a new company in a busy space, generate interest and excitement from potential customers and future employees, and build momentum for the business," she said.
Then it's about finding "new and interesting ways to repeat that message over and over again," she added."Repetition never spoils the prayer."
What she's watching: How companies, brands and founders are navigating the fragmented media landscape.
"There's a lot of debate about going direct vs via "traditional" media and I think you have to do both well. Otherwise, you'll miss out on opportunities to drive conversation about your brand and shape the debate," Whetstone said.
What's next: Sierra recently introduced "supervisor agents"that would oversee the primary AI agent and ensure it's providing factual information aligned with company policy, the co-founders told Ina Fried at Axios' AI+ Summit in San Francisco.
Whetstone will be tasked with explaining how more AI agents can support and safeguard against other AI agents.
More on Axios:
Sierra, co-founded by OpenAI chair Bret Taylor, raises $175 million
Exclusive: These tech executives want to support AI agents with more AI
Workplace chat's future: more AI agents, fewer humans

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With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and shelves empty
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With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and shelves empty

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With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and and empty shelves
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Other breaches exposed customer data, with brands like Adidas, The North Face and reportedly Cartier all disclosing that some contact information was compromised recently. In a statement, The North Face said it discovered a 'small-scale credential stuffing attack' on its website in April. The company reported that no credit card data was compromised and said the incident, which impacted 1,500 consumers, was 'quickly contained.' Meanwhile, Adidas disclosed last month that an 'unauthorized external party' obtained some data, which was mostly contact information, through a third-party customer service provider. Whether or not the incidents are connected is unknown. Experts like Steinhauer note that hackers sometimes target a piece of software used by many different companies and organizations. But the range of tactics used could indicate the involvement of different groups. Companies' language around cyberattacks and security breaches also varies — and may depend on what they know when. 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