Blizzard Entertainment's new president is former Call of Duty and NFL executive Johanna Faries, the company announced today.
She replaces Mike Ybarra, who left the company last week on the same day that Microsoft cut 1,900 from its video game workforce. Faries is the first new president of Blizzard since Microsoft completed its massive $68.7 billion acquisition of parent company Activision Blizzard in October.
In an email to staff on Monday (which was first posted by CharlieIntel on X/Twitter and IGN can confirm is accurate), President of Xbox Content Matt Booty both announced the news about Faries and briefly addressed the layoffs.
"I want to start by acknowledging the impact of the events last week and thank everyone for the professionalism and empathy I've seen as we navigate a demanding and difficult situation," Booty wrote. "We are dedicated to helping the studio reach its full potential and confident that the teams will continue the current momentum of building great games."
"With this context front and center," Booty later added, "I'm pleased to announced Johanna Faries as the new President of Blizzard Entertainment."
Read the full email below.
Here’s the full email Matt Booty, President of Xbox Content, sent to the Activision Blizzard staff on Johanna Faries being named President of Blizzard: pic.twitter.com/E8ICHUWUHe
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) January 29, 2024
Faries also addressed employees in an email on Monday, which was posted to Blizzard's blog. In it, she admitted to some "mixed emotions" amid the layoffs, writing, "The loss of talented teammates in recent days is hard to hold side-by-side with the immense excitement I feel about joining Blizzard – and building on the momentum you’ve created for Blizzard’s next chapter."
She also addressed the fact that the news of her appointment could be "a lot to take in," and "may no doubt bring up a range of reactions, questions, even concerns."
"Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities," Faries wrote. "It is important to note that Call of Duty’s way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard’s realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success. I’ve discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and I’m walking into this role with sensitivity to those dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard, as we begin to explore taking our universes to even higher heights."
As Faries takes on her new role, IGN has also confirmed that Matt Cox will become the Senior Vice President/General Manager of Call of Duty. In a note to employees about the appointment, Activision Blizzard President Rob Kostich wrote:
Matt, who celebrated 15 years at AP this past month, has deep knowledge and a long history with our games and teams, which will serve him well in his new role. In his tenure with the company, he has worked on a variety of brands within our portfolio including Guitar Hero, Skylanders, Destiny, and Call of Duty. And, with more than 10 years of experience on the Call of Duty franchise, he has more than proven himself to be a strong leader who is focused on building relationships and achieving alignment across the organization. Most importantly, Matt is committed to driving our culture, living our values and ensuring peer recognition remains a priority.
Faries previously served as General Manager of Call of Duty for more than a decade, but she began her career in the sports industry, working with the National Football League (NFL) for 12 years. She served various roles throughout her tenure at the NFL, including Vice President of Club Business Development.
Faries will begin her new role on February 5, and will visit with employees in the company's Irvine, Calif., office.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
