Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick Says Company is Working with Investigations - News

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It was revealed yesterday the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has started its own investigation into how Activision Blizzard handled employee allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in a new press release said the company will continue to work with the investigations into its company.

"We are deeply committed to making Activision Blizzard one of the best, most inclusive places to work anywhere," said Kotick. "There is absolutely no place anywhere in our Company for discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind.

"While we continue to work in good faith with regulators to address and resolve past workplace issues, we also continue to move ahead with our own initiatives to ensure that we are the very best place to work. We remain committed to addressing all workplace issues in a forthright and prompt manner."

Kotick says Activision Blizzard is working with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) with a goal to improve its workplace policies. The company is also complying with the SEC subpoena.

The CEO claims the company has made a "number of important improvements including significant changes to personnel, exiting a number of employees, and expanding compliance resources." The HR organization has also been overhauled and new Chief People Officer Julie Hodges will join the company this week who previously worked at The Walt Disney Company. The Company has also grown its training, performance management, and anti-harassment resources.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in July filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard over what is described as a "frat boy" culture at the video game giant. Female employees are subjected to constant sexual harassment, unequal pay, and retaliation, according to the lawsuit.

Since the lawsuit was filed Blizzard president J. Allen Brack has stepped down with Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra now co-leading the company.

Diablo IV game director Luis Barriga, lead designer Jesse McCree, and World of Warcraft senior designer Jonathan LeCraft have also been let go.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

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AHYL88 (on 21 September 2021)

He says a lot of stuff and yet do we believe him?

• +3

Tridrakious (on 22 September 2021)

Well, he doesn't really have a choice in the matter...

• +2

The Fury (on 22 September 2021)

Whatever the allegations, it's happening under his reign, and yet he isn't resigning?

• +2

Leynos (on 22 September 2021)

I wish Bobby would resign

• +2

Ashadelo (on 21 September 2021)

Of course the company is working with investigation, no one is above the law, no company and certainly not you big boy

• 0

Tridrakious Ashadelo (on 22 September 2021)

Well if 2016 to 2020 proved anything, there is at least 1 person above the law....

• +1

scrapking (on 21 September 2021)

Awkward title, "Bobby Kotick" is the last noun mentioned before the word "It".

A better title would be "CEO Bobby Kotick Says Activision Blizzard is Working with Investigations". That title is not only grammatically correct, but it's actually shorter as well.

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