Activision Blizzard: CEO Bobby Kotick is said to be leaving – This is the current status

Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick should go: That’s what the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg magazine say. They rely on various interviews and reports. But what about Kotick’s future in the company?

This is the situation: In the last few days, the debate over the sexism scandal at gaming giant Activision Blizzard has flared up again. The Wall Street Journal reported that company CEO Bobby Kotick withheld a report scheduled for the Christmas holiday. This report is said to collect over 700 complaints from employees, which has not yet been published.

A short time later, the bomb bursts: Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard for around 68 billion euros. As a result, the fate of current CEO Robert “Bobby” Kotick is uncertain, although some sources say Kotick is to leave.

Kotick to step down after takeover – what do we know?

After Microsoft made a takeover bid for Activision Blizzard, one question remains: What will happen to CEO Bobby Kotick, who is rumored to have kept important key information about the sexism scandal secret?

In the last few weeks and months, the pressure on Kotick has continued to mount. Investors and activists are calling for the immediate resignation of the Blizzard boss. So far, however, neither Microsoft nor Activision Blizzard have commented on Kotick’s future at the company.

Can Kotick stay? According to the Wall Street Journal, the CEO is very likely to resign once Microsoft’s acquisition is complete. In the announcement of the acquisition, Microsoft reports that Bobby Kotick will remain in his position for the time being, but also says that this area of ​​responsibility will later pass to Phil Spencer (Microsoft Gaming CEO).

Bobby Kotick himself also comments on the Microsoft deal:

Transactions like these can take a long time to complete. Until all necessary regulations are completed on satisfactory terms, which will probably be in fiscal year 2023, at the end of June 2023, we will remain completely self-determined. (…) I remain CEO with the same passion and enthusiasm that I started with in 1991.

Kotick im Microsoft-Statement

He himself also states that he would like to stay with the company, even if not in the role of CEO. He made it clear to those responsible at Microsoft that the company is so important to him that he doesn’t care what role the new management ascribes to him, as long as he can help with a clean transition.

Who is asking for resignation? The loudest voice is currently the SOC Investment Group, which is demanding an immediate resignation of Kotick and part of the board. The group has previously criticized the current Activision Blizzard CEO (via pcgamer.com) :

• His salary is completely excessive
• Kotick knew about the abuse cases.
• He tolerated immoral and unethical behavior

In addition to the shareholders of Activision Blizzard, a political activist group is also demanding Kotick’s departure. The ABK Worker’s Alliance emphasized in various Twitter posts that they continue to fight against circumstances similar to those at Activision Blizzard. As early as November 2021, the group asked for his resignation.

What’s next for Kotick and Activision Blizzard?

It is still unclear whether Bobby Kotick will keep his post permanently or whether he will have to give it up in the future. However, assuming the current situation doesn’t get worse, he’s likely to remain as CEO of Activision Blizzard until mid-2023 — maybe longer.

If the new leadership actually fires Kotick, it will result in a huge severance package. He could be entitled to around $300 million if he leaves have to. Only in the event that he is released due to special guilt would it be only 265.000 US-Dollar (via twitter.com).

What do you think? Should Kotick be removed from his position with immediate effect or does this need to be further and more clearly differentiated? Share your opinion with us in the comments!