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20.12.2023 - 21:31 / gamesindustry.biz / Phil Spencer / Lulu Cheng Meservey / Bobby Kotick
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Bobby Kotick will resign after more than 30 years as CEO of Activision Blizzard.
In a formal announcement to employees, the executive said he would be leaving on December 29.
Kotick said, "Perhaps the most important part of my job has been to help bring talented people together, provide the best resources possible, and foster an environment that encourages inspiration, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
"I cannot adequately express the pride I have in the people who continue to contribute to our success and all those who have helped throughout my 32 years leading this company."
He added that Activision Blizzard "could not be in better hands," acknowledging Microsoft's role following its acquisition of the Call of Duty maker.
As reported by The Verge, in an internal memo sent to staffers, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said, "The leadership teams for Activision Publishing, Blizzard, and King will remain in place, with no changes to the structure of how the studios and business units are run."
However, there will be a few changes primarily at the Activision Blizzard executive level.
Spencer said that Activision Blizzard vice chairman Thomas Tippl, chief administrative officer Brian Bullatao, chief people officer Julie Hodges, chief legal officer Grant Dixon, and chief financial officer Armin Zerza will stay through March in order to wrap up the company's transition to Microsoft.
Spencer added that Humam Sakhnini, vice chairman of vice chairman of Blizzard and King, will be exiting from the firm at the end of December. Meanwhile, Lulu Cheng Meservey, executive vice president of corporate affairs and chief communications officer, will leave by the end of January.
Kotick has served as CEO of Activision since 1991 and then became chief executive officer of Activision Blizzard in 2008 following its merger with Vivendi Games.
However the executive's tenure had its controversies and contentions.
Back in 2014, it was reported that Vivendi considered firing Kotick rather than allowing him to be part of an investor group behind an $8.2 billion deal that saw Activision purchase itself back from the former parent firm.
Game Workers Unite sparked calls for his firing in 2019 after Activision Blizzard announced laying off 800 staffers after having a record year of revenue.
Then, in July 2021, The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard accusing the company of fostering a culture of harassment and discrimination against women.
Later on, in November, The Wall Street Journal published a report that alleged Kotick knew of sexual misconduct at Activision
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It’s always nice to think that certain industries are “above harassment” or other things that have weighed down our world. But, sadly, that faith is rarely rewarded. The places and companies that should be the most “sound of mind” sometimes turn out to be the most corrupt or have some of the most hate-filled people around. For example, the video game industry is full of horror stories about the working conditions of certain places and the abuses made by those in power. And that says nothing about gamers themselves. But in the case of Activision Blizzard, they had an issue that was so grand that it resulted in several lawsuits, and those suits keep on coming.
Activision-Blizzard has been the centre of a lot of controversy over these past few years. After a lawsuit went public, detailing «numerous complaints about unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation» and a «frat boy» culture, plus claims from former CEO Bobby Kotick that the whole thing was just an «aggressive labour movement,» the company finally settled last year.
An unnamed former Activision executive is taking the Call of Duty publisher to court in California, accusing the company of age discrimination and violating the state's whistleblower protection law. Said executive is a 57-year-old who worked at the company from 2014; apparently, he and six other men aged 47 or older were cut from a team of 200, as part of broader Activision Blizzard restructuring efforts last August.
A former Activision Blizzard executive has filed a discrimination claim with the company, alleging it of discriminating against «old white guys».
A former Activision executive has sued the publisher in California state court accusing the company of age discrimination and violating the state's whistleblower protection law, as reported by Law360.
Bobby Kotick’s last day at renowned gaming megacorporation Activision Blizzard was Friday, December 29th, 2023. He leaves with a $15 million… departure salary? In casual terms, it’s a “golden parachute.” He’s 60 years old. He’ll be fine.
It's official: Bobby Kotick has left Activision Blizzard. After 32 years of leading the company, originally just Activision before the Blizzard merger, the controversial CEO is gone, having seen the Microsoft acquisition through to the end.
Long-time Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick is leaving the company following its acquisition by Microsoft in October. Kotick will depart on 29th December, with Microsoft largely keeping the company’s core leadership intact outside of this.
Long-time Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick is leaving the company following its acquisition by Microsoft in October. Kotick will depart on 29th December, with Microsoft largely keeping the company’s leadership intact outside of this.
The CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, is officially stepping down from his role later this month, it’s been confirmed.
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