The long-serving CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, is set to leave the company just over two months after its acquisition by Microsoft Corp.
In a public email to employees, Kotick reflected nostalgically on his 32-year tenure and expressed gratitude to the tireless contributions of the company’s staff. His final day with Activision Blizzard is scheduled for December 29, according to a memo obtained by The Verge.
Kotick praised the transformative impact of his team, stating, “You have turned a hobbyist form of entertainment into the world’s most engaging medium.” He also emphasized the importance of fostering an environment that encourages inspiration, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Last week, Activision Blizzard agreed to settle a California civil-rights lawsuit for nearly $55 million. The lawsuit initially alleged the existence of a pervasive and toxic culture at the company, including complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination, and pay disparity. Although Activision denied the allegations and the harassment claims were dropped from the final complaint, Kotick acknowledged a “tone deaf” response to the claims in 2021 and pledged to improve working conditions amid employee walkouts.
While a new CEO has yet to be named, The Verge reports that most of Activision’s executive team will remain intact as the company transitions into Microsoft’s gaming business.
Notably, Activision Blizzard is responsible for popular video game franchises such as “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.” Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of the company concluded in mid-October after a nearly two-year regulatory battle.
Microsoft’s shares (MSFT) have surged approximately 55% year-to-date, outperforming the 12% gain of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), of which Microsoft is a component.
