Activision Blizzard shareholders are calling for CEO Bobby Kotick’s resignation

Several Activision Blizzard shareholders are joining the call for a resignation letter from CEO Bobby Kotick, The Washington Post  reported Wednesday.

Activision Blizzard staff staged a walkout on Tuesday  following a Wall Street Journal  story that said Kotick allegedly did not discuss the abuse and sexual misconduct reports with the company’s board. Now, a group of Activision Blizzard shareholders led by the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) Investment Group is also asking for Kotick’s resignation.

“After the new revelations, it’s clear that the current leadership repeatedly failed to uphold a safe workplace — a basic function of their job,” Dieter Waizenegger, SOC executive director, said  via The Washington Post. “Activision Blizzard needs a new CEO, board chair, and lead independent director with the expertise, skill set and conviction to truly change the company’s culture. We need to really have a reset button on the board.”

Solidarity #actiblizzwalkout pic.twitter.com/QsP12pg2C6

— Jessica Gonzalez #ActiBlizzWalkout (@BlizzJess) November 17, 2021

The SOC also shared a letter addressed to Activision Blizzard’s board of directors. 

“In contrast to past company statements, CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of many incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault and gender discrimination at Activision Blizzard, but failed either to ensure that the executives and managers responsible were terminated or to recognize and address the systematic nature of the company’s hostile workplace culture,” reads the SOC’s letter via The Washington Post.

In addition to Kotick’s resignation, the SOC asks that Activision Blizzard’s Brian Kelly, chairman of the board, and Robert Morgado, lead independent director, retire by Dec. 31.

The games industry as a whole is taking note of what’s happening at Activision Blizzard, with even Sony Interactive Entertainment’s president and CEO Jim Ryan shocked by what’s happening.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.