Activion Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick will Step Down as CEO by End of 2023
Activision Blizzard has gone through a lot this year – after a gruelling back-and-forth with regulators regarding its sale to Microsoft (which has now been approved), it looks like the company might be crowning a new CEO next year, after a statement made by current CEO Bobby Kotick to company personnel.
Kotick’s planned departure was disclosed in an email to employees, citing an agreement with Xbox head Phil Spencer for him to stay as CEO until the end of 2023. As per Kotick’s statement:
“I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition. Phil has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.”
Kotick has been with Activision for 30 years at this point, and while Activision Blizzard was successful under his tenure, the company faced backlash following complaints of workplace hostility and sexual abuse allegations (to name a few). The company has stated though that an independent investigation has disproved these allegations.
It’s reported that Kotick is set to make over $390 million from the buy-out; the Microsoft-AB deal amounts to $69 Billion.
Source: IGN