Blizzard Appoints Johanna Faries, Former Call of Duty General Manager as New President 

Following Mike Ybarra’s departure from the studio last week amidst the mass layoffs, Blizzard Entertainment has named Johanna Faries as its new president.

Faries was a former National Football League (NFL) executive for 12 years before joining Activision in 2018 as the head of Call of Duty esports before overseeing the first-person shooter series as general manager.

She will be assuming her new role effectively on February 5, succeeding former Blizzard President and Xbox executive Mike Ybarra, who left last week.

In her introductory email to employees, Faries said, “Though my official first day with you all is February 5, I want to let you know immediately that it is an honor to join you next week in this new capacity.”

“I do so humbly and in awe of all that Blizzard has stood for and delivered to the world for over thirty years.”

“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.”

In her email, Faries also discussed her experience working with the Call of Duty franchise and how different it is to Blizzard titles, saying “Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities.”

“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.”

“I am committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our games, each unique and special in their own right.”

“I’m optimistic about our ability to serve our current and future player communities, and to further amplify the shared passion for greatness, polish, and creative mastery that is a hallmark of Blizzard’s approach to game-making.”

Faries also expressed her love for Diablo IV in her email and that she will be arriving at Blizzard Entertainment headquarters at Irvine, California, next week to meet with the staff there informally.

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