Activision CEO Kotick would consider leaving if he can’t quickly fix problems
The Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard 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, the Wall
Street Journal reported on Sunday (Nov 21), quoting people familiar with his
comments.
In a meeting on Friday with executives of the video game
publisher’s Blizzard Entertainment unit, Kotick stopped short of saying he
would step down, but left it open if misconduct issues at the company weren’t
fixed quickly, the people quoted told WSJ.
Activision Blizzard did not respond to a Reuters request for
comment outside business hours.
The move comes after some employees at the company staged a
walkout last Tuesday after a Wall Street Journal report stated that Kotick knew
about allegations of sexual harassment and assault earlier than previously
reported.
The comments on Friday by Kotick were part of a series of
internal meetings 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 quoting people familiar with the
meetings.
Kotick held meetings last week with senior leaders from two of Activision’s units, Activision Publishing and Blizzard Entertainment, WSJ reported, adding 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 been facing mounting pressure in recent
months of allegations from employees of equal pay violations, sexual
discrimination and sexual misconduct. The company said it had fired more than
20 employees following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination last
month.
The allegations at the company have also led to delays in
launch of products and exit of top executives.
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