Bobby Kotick leaves Activision Blizzard after Microsoft acquisition

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is officially stepping down from the company following the completion of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of the game developer and publisher. Kotick’s last day is December 29th, when Microsoft studio head Matt Booty will take over as head of Activision Blizzard’s executive team. Kotick led Activision Blizzard for 32 years.

Microsoft Activision Blizzard’s leadership team remains largely the same, although several executives are also leaving the company soon, such as communications chief Lulu Cheng Meservey, who is set to leave in January. Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced the changes in an internal memo. later obtained by The Verge

. The leadership shakeup extends across all departments, but Spencer said the majority of employees won’t see anything different.

“For most of you, your day-to-day work will remain the same – it’s still business as usual, delivering groundbreaking experiences to even more players around the world,” he wrote. “At the leadership level, these changes will provide the clarity and accountability necessary to achieve our ambitious goals and foster a culture that is welcoming, empowering and committed to gaming for all.”

In October, Microsoft has replaced several executives

; At this point, Booty was promoted to president of gaming content and studios and Sarah Bond was promoted to Xbox president, where she leads the console and platform business.

Kotick joined Activision in 1991 and has led the company to many key moments, such as: Activision and Vivendi Games merged in 2008 which gave birth to today’s Activision Blizzard. Later, in 2016, Activision acquired Blizzard King, the mobile gaming company. But behind those successes were Activision Blizzard employees who questioned Kotick’s leadership in 2021 as workers called for his resignation following the company’s response to the California Civil Rights Commission’s investigation into sexual harassment and discrimination at the company.

For this reason, Kotick’s future with the company was of interest to both the public and employees. However, that lawsuit was settled earlier this month with a $55 million payment, most of which went to women in the company. With this settlement, CRD has withdrawn its allegations of systemic sexual harassment.

Activision Blizzard and Microsoft will pay Kotick a “golden parachute” of at least $15 million. according to financial recordsa number that likely ignores Kotick’s extensive holdings in the company.