Meghan Markle May Not Be American Riviera Orchard’s CEO for Long
Meghan Markle has a new job title, CEO. That’s right. The Duchess of Sussex is heading up her new lifestyle brand, American Orchard Riviera. She’s reportedly signed on for the position but she may not do the job for long. Why? Because of a partnership that’s reportedly brewing between her and Netflix.
Meghan Markle is reportedly American Riviera Orchard’s new CEO
Following a long search for a CEO, Meghan has reportedly installed herself in the position, according to the New York Post. “She is the CEO of American Riviera Orchard,” a “source in the know” told the outlet.
“Despite having interviewed several candidates for the position,” royal commentator Richard Eden wrote for the Daily Mail, Meghan “was unable to find anyone who matched her expectations.”
It comes after Meghan’s initial search for a CEO proved unsuccessful back in April 2024, shortly after she publicly announced her new lifestyle brand on Instagram.
Meghan’s Netflix partnership could mean the streamer picks a different CEO
Eden continued, writing the difficulties Meghan had in finding a CEO for American Riviera Orchard has led her to a “commercial” partnership in her and Prince Harry’s five-year Netflix deal, which is set to expire in 2025.
“I reported that the Duchess’s difficulties had led to an intriguing new development: she had begun negotiations with Netflix about the U.S. streaming giant entering into a commercial partnership with American Riviera Orchard,” Eden wrote.
“This is something new for Netflix,” a source told the royal commentator, noting it would coincide with Meghan’s upcoming series about cooking, gardening, and entertaining. (Filming wrapped over the summer.)
“It would run the lifestyle business with Meghan, developing products as spin-offs from her show,” they explained. Part of the deal could, they added, be making someone other than Meghan CEO. “If a partnership is agreed,” the source said, “it’s likely that Netflix would install its own CEO to run operations.”
So, if the commercial partnership goes through—and it’s a big if at this point—Meghan’s time as American Riviera Orchard’s CEO could very well be short-lived.
Meghan’s legal team is still working on American Riviera Orchard’s trademark
The legal battle to secure a trademark for the name of Meghan’s lifestyle brand is still underway. Per a New York Post report, her legal team recently filed for a three-month extension. That means they must meet the next deadline or start the entire process over again.
The extension comes after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office received a protest filing to trademark American Riviera Orchard on Oct. 31, 2024. Documents obtained by the outlet showed it came from Harry & David, a premium food and gift brand, who argued the name’s too similar to their “Royal Riviera” line of products on which they currently have a trademark.
A month earlier, in September 2024, American Riviera Orchard’s trademark application hit another big snag. The USPTO refused the application because businesses can’t trademark geographical locations, and American Riviera Orchard is a nod to Montecito, California, the affluent Santa Barbara town where Meghan lives with the Duke of Sussex and their two children.
