Former Activision Blizzard Studio Head Hints That Kotick Should Quit

Paul Reiche commented on the controversy at Activision Blizzard, suggesting that a change of leadership is in order.

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The former head of the Activision Blizzard studio Toys for Bob, Paul Reiche, has been hinting that his old boss, Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick, should hand in his resignation after nearly six months of mounting scandal and controversy.

This all began on July 21, 2021 when the state of California filed a lawsuit concerning the “frat boy workplace culture” at Activision Blizzard. The news broke on November 16 that Kotick had known about the sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse at the company for years, but had taken no action to stop the behavior. The result was that over 100 employees walked out in protest.

“If the new stories I have read are true, I can’t see how Activision can continue its success without new leadership”, Reiche said in an interview. “How far down that goes depends on what we learn about the behavior of those leaders”.

The criticism follows comments from the Vice President of Microsoft, Phil Spencer, and the Chief Executive Officer of Sony, Jim Ryan, suggesting that Kotick should finally resign. These have both claimed to be reconsidering their business relationships with Activision Blizzard. Several organizations including Girls Who Code have already cut their ties to the company.

Reiche founded Toys for Bob along with Fred Ford and Terry Falls in 1989. The company was sold to Activision in 2005, but he stayed on as President. Activision merged with Vivendi Games in 2008 to form Activision Blizzard. Reiche went on to make the Skylanders games, leaving both Toys for Bob and Activision Blizzard in 2020.

“It’s pretty clear that the only forces that can create change at Activision are its customers (whose money is the ultimate corporate goal), its investors, and the employees whose talent makes Activision’s games worth buying”, Reiche noted.

A group of employees at Activision Blizzard, ABetterABK, posted a public petition to oust Kotick on November 18. This currently has over 22,000 signatures.

“Bobby Kotick has proved that he does not care about his employees and that he is not fit to be the CEO of Activision Blizzard”, the group stated. “Having a petition with Activision Blizzard consumer signatures should show him how much we think he is unfit for his position”.

Reiche pointed out that “you need brave and visionary individuals within the company and investors to stand up, speak out, and become the fulcrum for the power in all the other employees and customers”.

“I believe these ingredients for change exist at Activision”, Reiche said.

ABetterABK posted an employee petition on November 18. This collected over 1,500 signatures from workers at Activision Blizzard. The group called for Bobby Kotick to “remove himself as CEO of Activision Blizzard”. They also asked that “shareholders be allowed to select the new CEO without the input of Bobby who we are aware owns a substantial portion of the voting rights of the shareholders”.

The board of directors issued a statement in support of Kotick on November 17. But with so many calls for his resignation, his future at Activision Blizzard is far from certain.

Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/former-activision-blizzard-studio-head-hints-that-kotick-should-quit/