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Activision Blizzard employees have ended up with CEO Bobby Kotick

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Several key employees at Activision Blizzard they resigned or left the company in response to DFEH’s complaint and follow-up investigations. Some were directly involved in the allegations, including former technology director Ben Kilgore and former chief developer. Diablo 4 and World of Warcraft. J. Allen Brack, president of the company, said the DFEH was aware of the harassment complaints, he also resigned.

“In the past, we didn’t ask anyone to resign,” says a Blizzard employee who attended the outing. “We believed in solving that and the ability for people to learn and grow.” But after the bombing report Wall Street Journal On Tuesday, the staff continues, Kotick said, “There is a belief that there is no integrity to learning and enabling growth.”

The report says Kotick misrepresented his knowledge of the depth and breadth of allegations of misconduct to Activision Blizzard executives and board members. The commission was reportedly blinded by a complaint from the California DFEH this summer, despite a two-year delay in the department’s investigation. “Some of the employees who were accused of misconduct were praised at the outset and asked colleagues to remain silent on the issues.” Magazine reports.

The Wall Street Journal The CEO also recounts various allegations involving him. Kotick allegedly harassed an aide in 2006, saying he would die in a voice message. A Kotick spokesman says he apologized at the time and regretted his tone. In 2007, an assistant jet on a private jet owned by him sued Kotick after he was released on charges of alleged sexual harassment of the pilot. He agreed with the assistant and paid him $ 200,000, he says Magazine. A spokesman for Kotick has denied any retaliation.

In a statement, Activision Blizzard denied it Wall Street Journal he said the report and presented “a misleading view of Activision Blizzard and our CEO”. . . The WSJ ignores the important changes that are taking place to make it the most welcoming and inclusive workplace in the industry, and does not take into account the efforts of thousands of employees who work hard every day to fulfill their – and our – values ​​”.

Kotick himself also sent a video message to employees on Tuesday, in which he said the report “represents a misguided and misleading view of our company, me personally and my leadership.” He added: “Anyone who questions my conviction to be the most welcoming and inclusive workplace doesn’t really appreciate how important it is to me.” Kotick added that the company “has zero tolerance with a new policy of misconduct – and zero means zero.” Any reprehensible behavior is unacceptable. ” A spokesman for Activision Blizzard told WIRED that the company had no further comments.

“I don’t know anyone in the company who really believes that Bobby Kotick and his Trump-era goons have the best interests of employees at heart,” says a current Blizzard employee who asked to remain anonymous for fear of echoes. (Compliance Director Frances Townsend served as President George W. Bush’s Security Adviser and Chief of Staff Brian Bulatao has worked with the Trump administration.)

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