Well, folks, it’s official: Ricky Strauss is stepping down as head of marketing at Apple TV+. The maestro of movie magic and streaming strategy is leaving the tech juggernaut’s Culver City nest after just a year and a half. Apple’s PR wizards confirmed that Strauss will be moving on to (wait for it) “other creative endeavors,” which, in Hollywood speak, is the classiest way to say, “I’m outta here.”
It’s still anyone’s guess if Strauss’ position will be filled—or if Tor Myrhen, Apple’s VP of marketing communication, is shaking in his well-polished boots about finding a replacement. But really, who needs an exacting marketing chief when you have an ever-growing vault of Ted Lasso optimism and lessons in nocturnal diplomacy from Silo?
Let’s not forget the Strauss Effect that the streaming world felt. His resume is hotter than the latest Apple product keynote. Before leading the charge at Apple TV+, Strauss was Disney’s content and marketing czar, where he played midwife to the Disney+ launch back in 2019. During his decade-long mouse tenure, he championed our favorite Marvel heroes and Jedi knights, and put the Disney princesses and Pixar gang on every cereal box in the Western Hemisphere.
And what about that “Incredibles 2” campaign? Talk about flying high—and not just because of Jack-Jack’s laser vision.
Before Disney, Strauss was the president at Participant Media, where he got a taste of Oscar glory by serving up socially conscious hits like “An Inconvenient Truth” and “The Help.” You know, those “save-the-world” kind of movies that make you rethink your carbon footprint and how you tip your nanny.
But it seems even Strauss couldn’t resist the siren call of Cupertino and joined Apple in January 2023, tasked with overseeing Apple TV+ marketing campaigns, advertising, and promotions. With shows like “The Morning Show” and “Severance,” he definitely gave Netflix execs a reason to sweat in their vintage Lululemon.
As Strauss gracefully bows out of the Apple orchard, leaving behind polished promos and perfectly timed trailers, one can only imagine what’s next for him. Perhaps he’s off to helm another marketing empire, or maybe he’s just tired of convincing people that “The Afterparty” is worth another subscription. Either way, the entertainment world will surely be watching his next move with rapt attention.
In the meantime, it’s up to Tor Myrhen and the rest of Apple’s marketing brain trust to keep that Apple TV+ subscription ship afloat. Will they find another Strauss-like visionary? Or will it be up to Siri to come up with the next big marketing strategy? Stay tuned, because one thing’s for sure: there’s never a dull moment in the streaming wars.
