Blizzard has a new CEO, after the old one had to leave a few days ago. However, some are concerned whether this will end well…
For many, it was a rather disappointing news last week. Not only Mike Ybarra, the (now former) President of Blizzard is leaving the company, but there were over 1,900 layoffs across Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Now the next president of Blizzard Entertainment has been appointed, who will take the lead: Johanna Faries.
However, her appointment also raises some concerns among skeptical fans.
Who is Johanna Faries? Johanna Faries may not be well-known in the Blizzard universe yet – but definitely at Activision Blizzard. For the last five years, she managed Call of Duty as “General Manager” and was responsible for marketing strategy at the American NFL (“National Football League”) for 12 years before that.
What does Faries say about her appointment? Following her appointment, she immediately wrote an email to all Blizzard employees and subsequently shared it on Twitter with the community.
She is excited about her appointment, but also sees the questions and skepticism that may come with it. She wants to address these questions in the coming weeks and months. From the start, it is important for her to emphasize that she understands that not all games operate like Call of Duty. She says:
It is important to mention that the way Call of Duty stands up every day to deliver something to players often differs from what the fantastic games of Blizzard do: Each has different gameplay experiences, communities supporting the game, and different models of success. I discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and am starting this role with a sensitivity to these dynamics and a deep respect for Blizzard (…)
Aside from that, Faries appears very human in the email. She is looking forward to meeting all the employees personally and invites them to a meet and greet. At the same time, she insists that her “number 1 job” is raising her two sons. Aside from that, she spends her free time with yoga, prayer, and of course playing video games – currently, she is a fan of Diablo 4.
What is your opinion on the new president of Blizzard? Does she mean good for the company and the future of the games? Or do you see it rather skeptically?
