Blizzard Leisure has chosen Johanna Faries as its new president following Mike Ybarra's departure from the studio final week alongside information that <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/information/2024/01/25/microsoft-is-laying-off-1900-employees-across-xbox-activision-blizzard-and-zenimax">Microsoft was shedding 1,900 workers throughout its Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax groups</a>. Faries labored for the Nationwide Soccer League for 12 years earlier than working at Activision beginning in 2018, as reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/information/articles/2024-01-29/blizzard-s-new-president-johanna-faries-is-former-call-of-duty-nfl-executive"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>. She began as the top of Name of Responsibility esports earlier than ultimately working as a Name of Responsibility franchise supervisor at <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/information/2023/10/13/microsoft-has-officially-acquired-activision-blizzard-for-69-billion">the corporate Microsoft acquired final yr for $69 billion</a>.
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In Faries’ introductory e-mail to Blizzard workers at present, she addressed the layoffs that occurred on the firm final week.
“Although my first official day with you all is February 5, I wish to let you already know instantly that it’s an honor to hitch you subsequent week on this new capability,” she writes within the e-mail. “I accomplish that humbly and in awe of all that Blizzard has stood for and delivered to the world for over thirty years. At this time additionally brings some combined feelings. The lack of proficient teammates in latest days is tough to carry side-by-side with the immense pleasure I really feel about becoming a member of Blizzard – and constructing on the momentum you’ve created for Blizzard’s subsequent chapter.”
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MIT Sloan
Elsewhere within the e-mail, Faries discusses her historical past engaged on Name of Responsibility and the variations between that franchise and the franchises beneath Blizzard’s umbrella. “Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly totally different corporations with distinct video games, cultures, and communities,” she writes. “You will need to notice that Name of Responsibility’s method of waking up within the morning to ship for gamers can typically differ from the beautiful video games in Blizzard’s realm: every with totally different gameplay experiences, communities that encompass them, and requisite fashions of success.” Faries says she’s mentioned these variations with the Blizzard management workforce and is entering into this function “with sensitivity to these dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard.”
Faries will probably be arriving to Blizzard’s Irvine, California-based headquarters subsequent week to informally (and optionally) meet with workers there. In her e-mail, she says she’s a giant Diablo IV fan and all through life, “the enjoyment I discover in video games – and dealing with those that make them – solely deepens.”
“I stay impressed by Blizzard’s iconic legacy, and the transformative function gaming has performed in my life and within the lives of others,” she writes. “I can not wait to get going – to pay attention, to be taught, to empower, and to collaborate with all of you on our daring and vivid future collectively. Collectively, might we forge many legendary days forward.”
You possibly can learn Faries’ full e-mail right here.
Faries steps into the function of Blizzard’s president following information final week that Mike Ybarra, who had labored on the firm since 2019, was leaving. Earlier than Blizzard, Ybarra labored at Microsoft for greater than 19 years.
How do you’re feeling about the way forward for Blizzard following final week’s layoffs and its new president? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
Supply: Recreation Informer
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