Bobby Kotick Is Leaving Activision Quickly, Triggering Management Adjustments at Xbox

At this time Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer shared in an inside memo the plans for the joint management of Xbox and Activision Blizzard.

The memo, posted by The Verge and not directly confirmed by Lulu Cheng Meservey, mentions that Kotick will depart the group on December 29 following the $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.

Many of the current management is staying in place however will report back to Microsoft President of Recreation Content material and Studios Matt Booty.

These embody Thomas Tippl (Vice Chairman, Activision Blizzard), Rob Kostich (President, Activision Publishing), Mike Ybarra (President, Blizzard Leisure) and Tjodolf Sommestad (President, King). 

Activision Chief Administrative Officer Brian Bulatao, Chief Folks Officer Julie Hodges, Chief Authorized Officer Grant Dixton, and Chief Monetary Officer Armin Zerza will report back to their counterparts at Xbox, no less than till March 2024.

Chief Communications Officer Lulu Cheng Meservey will depart on the finish of January, whereas Blizzard and King vice chairman Humam Sakhnini will depart on the finish of December. 

Spencer mentions that for many Activision Blizzard staff day-to-day work will stay the identical with the purpose of “bringing extra groundbreaking experiences to extra gamers all over the world.”

Alternatively, he provides that the adjustments to management “will present the readability and accountability that’s mandatory to attain our bold objectives and foster a tradition that’s welcoming, empowering, and dedicated to Gaming for Everybody.”

This follows extra management adjustments at Xbox that noticed Matt Booty and Sarah Bond promoted to Microsoft President of Recreation Content material and Studios and President of Xbox respectively. 

It is price reminding that whereas the acquisition has been consummated, it is nonetheless being investigated by the FTC, which goes ahead with its administrative regulation continuing. 

If the regulator manages to prevail, they might search a divestiture, successfully undoing the acquisition, albeit it actually appears to be a really difficult purpose to attain.