Microsoft has appointed Johanna Faries, the former General Manager of the Call of Duty franchise, as the new President of Blizzard Entertainment. Faries takes over from Mike Ybarra, who resigned from the position last week. Notably, Faries is the second woman to hold the top leadership position at Blizzard, following Jen Oneal’s short tenure as co-president a few months ago. However, Faries is the first woman of color to lead a studio.
Interestingly, Faries has a background in sports. She spent nearly 12 years in the marketing department of the National Football League (NFL) before transitioning to oversee the esports business of Call of Duty in 2018. She then ascended to the role of franchise general manager in 2021.
In an email to Blizzard employees, Matt Booty, head of Xbox Content, announced Faries’ appointment, citing her experience in both the commercial and entertainment sectors and her strong managerial skills. Faries herself addressed the Blizzard staff in a blog post, acknowledging the questions and concerns that arose from the recent employee layoffs at Blizzard. She highlighted the differences between the Call of Duty and Blizzard franchises in terms of gameplay, player communities, and business models. Faries pledged to learn from other Blizzard executives and guide these game franchises into a new era. She plans to tour Blizzard’s headquarters in Irvine and engage in close conversations with the staff.
In a Twitter post, Faries expressed her enthusiasm for Blizzard’s upcoming game Diablo IV and shared an image of Lilith, a prominent character in the game.
To summarize, Microsoft has appointed Johanna Faries as the new President of Blizzard Entertainment. Faries, a woman of color, brings a unique perspective with her background in sports and previous experience in overseeing the Call of Duty franchise. She aims to address the concerns raised by both the Call of Duty and Blizzard communities and lead these game franchises into a new and exciting era.
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