Bobby Kotick Is Leaving Activision Blizzard on December 29
December 29 will be Bobby Kotick’s last day at Activision Blizzard. And fans are overjoyed.
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Key Takeaways
- CEO Bobby Kotick is leaving Activision Blizzard on December 29.
- Alongside Kotick, other executives are also departing. Among them are Chief Communications Officer Lulu Cheng Meservey and Activision Blizzard Vice Chairman Thomas Tippl.
- Phil Spencer assures employees that despite leadership changes, the majority of the workforce won’t experience significant differences.
- From now on, Activision Blizzard Vice Chairman Thomas Tippl, Activision Publishing President Rob Kostich, Blizzard President Mike Ybarra, and King President Tjodolf Sommestad will report directly to Matt Booty.
- Fans are overjoyed at the news. However, concerns remain that Kotick doesn’t have to face any consequences for his actions. Many players doubt that his departure will change anything.
Bobby Kotick, the soon-to-be-former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is set to conclude his tenure before the end of 2023. His impending departure was first known in October when Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Earlier rumors suggested that he would leave the company in January 2024. However, it has now been officially confirmed that Kotick will step down on December 29. According to Polygon, Bobby Kotick will leave Blizzard with a severance package of at least $15 million.
Bobby Kotick Leaves Activision Blizzard
Over a span of 32 years, Bobby Kotick has served as the CEO of Activision Blizzard. Across nearly three decades, he witnessed the company’s many milestones. Notable events include the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games in 2008, Blizzard’s acquisition of King, and the rise and fall of famous franchises such as Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and more. Concluding his journey at the company, Kotick also saw Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Yet, his leadership came under intense scrutiny, marred by scandalous controversies. For instance, his substantial salary amid employee layoffs. But that wasn’t even the most alarming issue during his time as CEO. There were also allegations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. And his decision to remain silent on this aching matter sparked protests and outcries for Kotick’s resignation. Only recently, on December 15, 2023, did the lawsuit regarding these allegations reach a solution. The California’s Civil Rights Department announced that Activision Blizzard is obligated to settle the suit by paying $54.9 million. Most of the sum will serve as compensation for the mistreated female employees in the company. The remaining amount will be allocated to cover legal expenses. And the rest will be directed towards charities.
Other than Bobby Kotick, as reported by The Verge, several executives are also set to depart soon. Among them is Chief Communications Officer Lulu Cheng Meservey, who is leaving at the end of January. And Activision Blizzard Vice Chairman Thomas Tippl will be stepping down in March. The leadership shakeup spans departments. But according to Phil Spencer, the majority of employees will see no difference:
“For most of you, your day-to-day work will remain the same—it’s still business as usual in bringing more groundbreaking experiences to more players around the world. At the leadership level, these changes will provide the clarity and accountability that is necessary to achieve our ambitious goals and foster a culture that is welcoming, empowering, and committed to Gaming for Everyone. We have an exciting 2024 lineup of games across Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, King and Xbox Game Studios, and I know that we all look forward to sharing more details with our player communities when the time is right.”
— Phil Spencer
Who Is Activision Blizzard’s New CEO?
The prevailing question on everyone’s mind at the moment is, “Who is the CEO of Activision Blizzard now?” The answer is Xbox Game Content and Studios President Matt Booty. Booty won’t replace Kotick directly. However, from now on, Activision Blizzard Vice Chairman Thomas Tippl, Activision Publishing President Rob Kostich, Blizzard President Mike Ybarra, and King President Tjodolf Sommestad will all report to him.
Bobby Kotick’s Departure from Activision Blizzard: Fans Are Overjoyed
Needless to say, fans are overjoyed at Bobby Kotick’s departure from Activision Blizzard next week. Across social media, the gaming community can’t contain their excitement:
Yet, concerns linger about the convenient conditions of his departure. Despite the controversies, Bobby Kotick is set to receive a ‘golden parachute,’ allowing him to land softly without facing consequences for his actions.
Meanwhile, others doubt that his departure will actually change anything at Activision Blizzard:
At the moment, we can only hope that positive changes await Activision Blizzard.
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