Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Says He Would Consider Stepping Down If This Happens
Chief Executive of Activision, Bobby Kotick, has indicated that his position as leader may come to an end if he fails to quickly fix the culture problems at the gaming entertainment company.
A Wall Street Journal report revealed that Bobby Kotick has told senior managers at the company that he would consider stepping down if he fails to quickly fix the culture problems at the company. WSJ quoted people familiar with his comments.
The people told the newspaper that in a Friday meeting with executives of the company’s Blizzard Entertainment unit, the CEO stopped short of saying he would step down, but left it open if misconduct issues at the company weren’t fixed quickly.
Last Friday’s meeting was a part of a series of internal meetings that had occurred across Activision last week, in which he and other members of the leadership team met with employees to reaffirm their commitment to a healthy workplace, the Journal reported.
The CEO had held meetings last week with senior leaders from two of Activision’s units, Activision Publishing and Blizzard Entertainment, WSJ reported.
Top executives of Activision Publishing relayed to Kotick in an online meeting that some employees would not be satisfied unless he stepped down.
Activision has formed a “Workplace Responsibility Committee” that will apparently “oversee the Company’s progress in successfully implementing its new policies, procedures, and commitments to improve workplace culture and eliminate all forms of harassment and discrimination at the Company”.
Policies that reportedly won’t retrospectively apply to the conduct of Kotick.
Activision have appointed the only two women on its ten-person board of directors to lead this Committee, and will soon be adding “a new, diverse director to the Board” to join them.
Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.