With recent reports doubling down on Activision Blizzard’s toxic workplace culture and revealing how much of it has been perpetuated by CEO Bobby Kotick himself, there have been loud calls for his resignation, with a group of the company’s shareholders and a large number of its own employees being among those who want the man gone. While the company’s leadership has, until now, defended Kotick, it seems Kotick himself is considering stepping down- with some caveats.
According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, sources at Activision have said that Bobby Kotick said in a recent meeting between the company’s top executives that he would considering resigning from his post and leave the company if he can’t fix the deep-rooted problems at the company “with speed”. He reportedly apologized for the way he has handled the situation, and expressed shame and regret at the details that have come to light over recent weeks and months.
Part of that process might be the establishment of a “workplace excellence committee”, which, if created, would be in charge of the company’s recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Kotick was also told at the company that many Activision Blizzard employees would not be satisfied with any efforts until he himself stepped down.
Pressure has been building on Kotick from both within and outside of Activision. PlayStation head Jim Ryan and Xbox boss Phil Spencer have both spoken out against the company’s workplace culture and its troubling practices against its employees.
