Blizzard names Johanna Faries, former general manager for Call of Duty at Activision, as its president, succeeding Mike Ybarra, who left last week after layoffs

Bloomberg 2024-01-30

Context & Ripple Effects

Blizzard’s leadership has changed repeatedly since co-founder Michael Morhaime was replaced by World of Warcraft executive producer J. Allen Brack in 2018. Brack’s 2021 departure brought Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra into a co-leadership structure amid the company’s legal fallout.

Oneal then left later that year, making Ybarra the sole leader in Blizzard’s previous leadership transition. Faries’ appointment follows his exit after layoffs and installs an executive whose recent operating experience was at Call of Duty within Activision.

First-order effects

Johanna Faries takes responsibility for Blizzard’s leadership immediately after Mike Ybarra’s departure, ending another leadership gap at the studio.
The appointment moves a Call of Duty executive into Blizzard’s top role, creating a direct management link between Activision’s flagship franchise operation and Blizzard.

Second-order effects

Blizzard teams and partners gain a new decision-making center after layoffs, while Faries must establish continuity across the studio’s existing franchises and leadership organization.
The move puts greater weight on whether operating practices from Call of Duty can translate to Blizzard without displacing the distinct management needs of Blizzard’s teams and products.

Third-order effects

If executive movement across Activision Blizzard’s major businesses continues, the company may operate with a more integrated leadership bench rather than largely separate franchise-led management paths.
The repeated succession changes point to leadership stability as a continuing organizational issue; Faries’ tenure will determine whether this becomes a reset or another transition in the pattern.

The trend: This appointment is one instance of Activision Blizzard drawing senior leaders from within its major franchise operations as it navigates repeated changes at Blizzard’s top level.

Discussion

Gameranx Ryan Parreno on x
Johanna Faries Takes Over From Mike Ybarra As Head Of Blizzard
@joh_burg Johanna Faries on x
Hi all. Today I sent the below note to @Blizzard_Ent. As for X: I play to stay in “listen mode” here, but trust I'm tuned in! As for me: a typical day=work life+yogi life+games life. Currently on heavy rotation: D4, COD, BG3. Feeling blessed & grateful🙏🏽Onward. ✨ [image]
@charlieintel @charlieintel on x
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: [image]
@dinabass Dina Bass on x
Also Call of Duty head of product management Matt Cox will replace Faries at CoD, Microsoft said.
@bludgeonparagon @bludgeonparagon on x
Probably not all that impressive for the state of things but if nothing else it's someone actually previously involved in dev management, which is a BILLION times better than a board of Bush torture apologists and ex-45 CIA cronies hired by Kotick
@owcavalry @owcavalry on x
Johanna Faries is the new President of Blizzard Entertainment 💙 The former General Manager of the Call of Duty franchise acknowledges the differences between Activision and Blizzard, pledging to honor their unique dynamics. [image]
@yougotsnowd Stephanie Snowden on x
It is simply not possible for Blizzard to be in better hands. Johanna is one of the best leaders I have ever worked with, and while I will miss her dearly on CoD - Blizzard folks have so much to look forward to! ❤️❤️❤️👏🏼 Congrats JF, you're on twitter!!!
@matlagan Matt on x
i will not be a doomer i will not be a doomer i will not be a doomer
@aarongreenberg @aarongreenberg on x
Huge congratulations to @Joh_Burg on this exciting new role. I've been super impressed with Johanna in the time I've gotten to know her. Looking forward to see where she and the Blizzard team take things into the future!
@bondsarah_bond BondSarahBond on x
Congratulations Johanna 💚
@klobrille @klobrille on x
@_JKrawczynski No clear opinion on it. It's cool we get to see more women in leadership positions. I guess coming from Call of Duty, she knows how to get games out, something Blizzard might need more of. The rest remains to be seen.
@mradamap Adam Apicella on x
@Blizzard_Ent @Joh_Burg You got this one right. Great job.
@attlka Dan James on x
This is one of the most bizarre examples of someone failing up. Her first project in gaming (Overwatch/COD's esports franchising model) was so catastrophically bad it quite literally financially crippled multiple teams involved and triggered an esports winter for the *entire...
@prorebornyt @prorebornyt on x
@Joh_Burg @Blizzard_Ent Blizzard is in much need of a love injection. It was heartbreaking as a fan to see Overwatch 2's handling, and the working conditions that came out over the past few years. Hope I can say Blizz is a story of “turning it around” in the next few years.
@synthpotato @synthpotato on x
@Joh_Burg @Blizzard_Ent Congrats! Please turn this ship around as Blizzard has been falling off for years, Less predatory mechanics and more fun please!
@jaywood2010 @jaywood2010 on x
Blizzard's new President is Johanna Faries & she told staff: “Activision, Blizzard, & King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, & communities” This is something Microsoft previosly echoed. They want them to have their own unique cultures & decisions [i…
@sunnydg23 Dr. Sunny Duttagupta on x
@Blizzard_Ent @Joh_Burg Congratulations Johanna @Joh_Burg. Welcome to @Warcraft. I wish you the best and on behalf of a shrinking Rated Battlegrounds community, would appeal to you to kindly spare some positive thoughts for revitalizing this mode. All the best.
@blizzard_ent @blizzard_ent on x
Introducing Johanna Faries (@Joh_Burg) as the new President of Blizzard Entertainment. 🗒️ https://news.blizzard.com/... [image]
@joshscorcher @joshscorcher on x
Well, screw me for being optimistic. [image]
r/pcgaming r on reddit
Blizzard's New President Johanna Faries Is a Former ‘Call of Duty,’ NFL Executive
r/Competitiveoverwatch r on reddit
Introducing Johanna Faries as the new President of Blizzard Entertainment
r/gamingnews r on reddit
Blizzard's New President Johanna Faries Is a Former ‘Call of Duty,’ NFL Executive

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