Blizzard Entertainment announced former General Manager of Call of Duty, Johanna Faries, as its new president. Read on to learn more about how the newly appointed Blizz president plans to tackle her role at the company.
Blizzard Entertainment Announces Johanna Faries as New President
Faries is Optimistic for Blizzard's Current and Future Player Communities
Former Call of Duty GM Johanna Faries was announced as the new president of Blizzard Entertainment today. Faries will assume her new role as Blizzard's president starting February 5, stepping in for former Blizzard President Mike Ybarra, who resigned amid mass layoffs that affected over 1,900 workers at Microsoft's gaming divisions, Xbox, Zenimax, and Blizzard.
"Today also brings some mixed emotions. 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," expressed Faries in a post on the company's website.
Faries scheduled an "informal meet-and-greet" next week at Blizzard’s HQ, Irvine, California, to hear more from members across the organization. "Those of you who cannot make it to those gatherings or aren’t located in Irvine, please feel free to email me. We are also planning a town hall meeting to be held in the near future," added Faries.
In addressing potential reactions to her appointment, Faries expressed her commitment to respecting the dynamics within Blizzard. She wrote, "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."
Having joined ActiBlizz as Commissioner of Call of Duty esports in October 2018 and later becoming the General Manager for the Call of Duty franchise, Faries looks to bring her experiences in a wider capacity. Prior to her gaming roles, she spent nearly 12 years at the NFL, serving as the NFL's VP of marketing strategy and fan development as of late.
"I remain inspired by Blizzard’s iconic legacy, and the transformative role gaming has played in my life and in the lives of others. I cannot wait to get going – to listen, to learn, to empower, and to collaborate with all of you on our bold and bright future together. Together, may we forge many legendary days ahead," stated Faries.
Given Faries' track record, her appointment looks to fare well, especially considering the success of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, which set engagement records despite the game's negative reviews. Players reportedly spent more time in COD MW3's campaign compared to its predecessors.
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Blizzard: INTRODUCING JOHANNA FARIES AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT
Activision appoints Call of Duty esports commissioner
Former Call of Duty GM Johanna Faries appointed as Blizzard’s new president
