Activision Blizzard: CEO Bobby Kotick to exit after Microsoft takeover


Despite the courtesies employed by Microsoft’s communication, Bobby Kotick, the very controversial CEO of Activision Blizzard, should leave his post once the takeover of the second company by the first is effective.

“Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as Activision Blizzard’s Chief Executive Officer and will continue with his teams to build culture and accelerate business growth.” These were the words used yesterday, January 18, 2022, in Microsoft’s press release announcing the historic takeover of the publisher of call of duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch and candy Crush for a record $68.7 billion. However, behind this very consensual formulation, it would seem that Microsoft intends to push the very controversial Kotick towards the exit.

The information is reported by the wall street journal and Bloomberg, each citing sources familiar with the matter. The agreement between the two parties would thus provide that Kotick leaves his post once the transaction is completed – that is to say by June 2023, according to Microsoft estimates.

A historic but highly controversial figure from Activision Blizzard

Robert “Bobby” Kotick was appointed CEO of Activision in 1991. It was under his aegis that the Activision/Vivendi Games merger took place in the 2000s, giving birth to the current Activision Blizzard group.

In 30 years in this position, Kotick has acquired a sulphurous reputation. He made himself known in particular for his very questionable management methods, crystallized by his sadly famous remarks made during a conference in 2009 where he boasted of having been able to establish “a culture of pessimism and fear” in his business and to have “eliminated the fun of making video games”. He has also often “distinguished himself” by taking pride of place in the rankings of business leaders whose remuneration is the most disconnected from that of his employees. In 2020, for example, its nearly $155 million in haul was 1,560 times the median salary of Activision Blizzard workers, according to data compiled by the site. GameOne.

Finally, of course, Kotick’s reputation has been damaged by recent cases of sexist behavior at Activision Blizzard. Last November, in particular, an investigation by the wall street journal affirmed that in 2018 the general manager, personally informed of very serious facts (including rapes) reported by certain employees of the group, had been busy stifling the files by negotiating amicable arrangements. These revelations had prompted some employees and even some groups of investors to publicly demand the departure of Kotick. Their wish should soon be granted.



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