Blizzard President J. Allen Brack Is Stepping Down

J. Allen Brack, BlizĀ­zard’s presĀ­iĀ­dent for the past 15 years, is leavĀ­ing the comĀ­paĀ­ny is the wake of the ongoĀ­ing lawĀ­suit over the sexĀ­uĀ­al harassĀ­ment and disĀ­crimĀ­iĀ­naĀ­tion claims against women. This was offiĀ­cialĀ­ly announced on BlizĀ­zard’s webĀ­site.

Jen Oneal and Mike YbarĀ­ra will now be the co-leadĀ­ers of BlizĀ­zards going forĀ­ward (neiĀ­ther will carĀ­ry title of presĀ­iĀ­dent or CEO). Oneal forĀ­merĀ­ly led the team at VicĀ­arĀ­iĀ­ous Visions, which recentĀ­ly became part of BlizĀ­zard. She had been the execĀ­uĀ­tive vice presĀ­iĀ­dent of develĀ­opĀ­ment at BlizĀ­zard since January.

As for YbarĀ­ra, he joined BlizĀ­zard in 2019 after an extendĀ­ed career at Xbox and more recentĀ­ly served as execĀ­uĀ­tive vice presĀ­iĀ­dent and genĀ­erĀ­al manĀ­agĀ­er of platĀ­form and techĀ­nolĀ­oĀ­gy for Blizzard.

ā€œJen and Mike have more than three decades of gamĀ­ing indusĀ­try expeĀ­riĀ­ence between them. MovĀ­ing forĀ­ward, they will share responĀ­siĀ­bilĀ­iĀ­ties over game develĀ­opĀ­ment and comĀ­paĀ­ny operĀ­aĀ­tions,ā€ BlizĀ­zard said. ā€œBoth leadĀ­ers are deeply comĀ­mitĀ­ted to all of our employĀ­ees; to the work ahead to ensure BlizĀ­zard is the safest, most welĀ­comĀ­ing workĀ­place posĀ­siĀ­ble for women, and peoĀ­ple of any genĀ­der, ethĀ­nicĀ­iĀ­ty, sexĀ­uĀ­al oriĀ­enĀ­taĀ­tion, or backĀ­ground; to upholdĀ­ing and reinĀ­forcĀ­ing our valĀ­ues; and to rebuildĀ­ing your trust. With their many years of indusĀ­try expeĀ­riĀ­ence and deep comĀ­mitĀ­ment to integriĀ­ty and incluĀ­sivĀ­iĀ­ty, Jen and Mike will lead BlizĀ­zard with care, comĀ­pasĀ­sion, and a dedĀ­iĀ­caĀ­tion to excelĀ­lence. You’ll hear more from Jen and Mike soon.ā€

Brack said in his own stateĀ­ment: ā€œI am conĀ­fiĀ­dent that Jen Oneal and Mike YbarĀ­ra will proĀ­vide the leadĀ­erĀ­ship BlizĀ­zard needs to realĀ­ize its full potenĀ­tial and will accelĀ­erĀ­ate the pace of change. I anticĀ­iĀ­pate they will do so with pasĀ­sion and enthuĀ­siĀ­asm and that they can be trustĀ­ed to lead with the highĀ­est levĀ­els of integriĀ­ty and comĀ­mitĀ­ment to the comĀ­poĀ­nents of our culĀ­ture that make BlizĀ­zard so special.ā€

Brack is leavĀ­ing BlizĀ­zard to ā€œpurĀ­sue new opporĀ­tuĀ­niĀ­ties,ā€ ActiviĀ­sion BlizĀ­zard said in its own stateĀ­ment.

A sepĀ­aĀ­rate stateĀ­ment givĀ­en to GamaĀ­suĀ­tra said ā€œIt became clear to J. Allen Brack and ActiviĀ­sion BlizĀ­zard leadĀ­erĀ­ship that BlizĀ­zard EnterĀ­tainĀ­ment needs a new direcĀ­tion and leadĀ­erĀ­ship givĀ­en the critĀ­iĀ­cal work ahead in terms of workĀ­place culĀ­ture, game develĀ­opĀ­ment, and innovation.ā€

This leadĀ­erĀ­ship change arrives shortĀ­ly after CalĀ­iĀ­forĀ­niĀ­a’s DepartĀ­ment of Fair EmployĀ­ment and HousĀ­ing launched a lawĀ­suit against ActiviĀ­sion BlizĀ­zard over claims of equal pay vioĀ­laĀ­tions, sex disĀ­crimĀ­iĀ­naĀ­tion, and sexĀ­uĀ­al harassment. 

A sepĀ­aĀ­rate lawĀ­suit was also filed by a shareĀ­holdĀ­er, which alleges that ActiviĀ­sion BlizĀ­zard gave ā€œfalse and misĀ­leadĀ­ingā€ stateĀ­ments in regards to the invesĀ­tiĀ­gaĀ­tion. The comĀ­paĀ­ny failed to give them notice of the two-year invesĀ­tiĀ­gaĀ­tion which is now responĀ­siĀ­ble for a dip in stock prices. 

ActiviĀ­sion BlizĀ­zard employĀ­ees walked out last week in protest of the comĀ­paĀ­ny’s response to the sitĀ­uĀ­aĀ­tion. HunĀ­dreds of Ubisoft employĀ­ees wrote an open letĀ­ter in supĀ­port as they have been in a simĀ­iĀ­lar scenario.

IvanaHumperlot
IvanaHumperlothttp://buttonsmashgamers.com
I am a Platinum lover and an ex- Cod-aholic. I've been playing games since I was 5 years old and I refuse to quit, despite my mother's attempts to get me to. God of War and its successors are my all time favorite games.

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