<p id=”par-1_52″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/”>Meghan Markle </a>has a new job title, CEO. That’s right. The Duchess of Sussex is heading up her <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/going-meghan-markles-american-riviera-orchard-lifestyle-brand.html/”>new lifestyle brand</a>, 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. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-markle-is-reportedly-american-riviera-orchard-s-new-ceo”>Meghan Markle is reportedly American Riviera Orchard’s new CEO</h2>
<p id=”par-2_37″>Following a long search for a CEO, Meghan has reportedly installed herself in the position, according to the <a href=”https://nypost.com/2024/12/03/entertainment/meghan-markle-appoints-herself-as-ceo-for-american-riviera-orchard-after-being-unable-to-find-candidate-report/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>New York Post</a>. “She is the CEO of American Riviera Orchard,” a “source in the know” told the outlet. </p>
<p id=”par-3_27″>“Despite having interviewed several candidates for the position,” royal commentator Richard Eden wrote for the <a href=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14149853/Meghan-Markle-CEO-American-Riviera-Orchard.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Daily Mail</a>, Meghan “was unable to find anyone who matched her expectations.” </p>
<p id=”par-4_26″>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. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-s-netflix-partnership-could-mean-the-streamer-picks-a-different-ceo”>Meghan’s Netflix partnership could mean the streamer picks a different CEO</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meghan-Markle-who-is-reportedly-the-new-CEO-of-American-Riviera-Orchard-in-2024.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Meghan Markle, who is reportedly the new CEO of American Riviera Orchard, claps” class=”wp-image-3748226″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Meghan Markle | Diego Cuevas/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_37″>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 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-harry-meghan-markle-face-2025-financial-nightmare-cant-actually-pull-off-upcoming-netflix-project.html/”>five-year Netflix deal</a>, which is set to expire in 2025. </p>
<p id=”par-6_35″>“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. </p>
<p id=”par-7_30″>“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. (<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/in-her-element-meghan-markle-really-enjoyed-filming-upcoming-netflix-show.html/”>Filming wrapped over the summer</a>.) </p>
<p id=”par-8_51″>“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.” </p>
<p id=”par-9_25″>So, if the commercial partnership goes through—and it’s a big <em>if</em> at this point—Meghan’s time as American Riviera Orchard’s CEO could very well be short-lived. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-meghan-s-legal-team-is-still-working-on-american-riviera-orchard-s-trademark”>Meghan’s legal team is still working on American Riviera Orchard’s trademark</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Meghan Markle Launches Elegant Lifestyle Brand in Return to Instagram” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/dx3NK0oHW9Q?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-10_47″>The legal battle to secure a trademark for the name of Meghan’s lifestyle brand is still underway. Per a <a href=”https://nypost.com/2024/11/29/entertainment/meghan-markle-asks-us-patent-office-for-more-time-to-correct-american-riviera-orchard-trademark-application/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>New York Post</a> 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.</p>
<p id=”par-11_61″>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. </p>
<p id=”par-12_53″>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. </p>