[GameSpot] - Activision Blizzard Creates A "Workplace Responsibility Committee" In Wake Of Bobby Kotick Situation

[343iBot]

Activision Blizzard has announced the formation of a new committee to help improve the company's workplace culture in the wake of reports about sexual harassment and discrimination. The controversy recently reached new heights after The Wall Street Journal published a report that said CEO Bobby Kotick knew about and covered up instances of sexual harassment at the company.

The new "Workplace Responsibility Committee" is tasked with "implementing its new policies, procedures, and commitments to improve workplace culture and eliminate all forms of harassment and discrimination at the company," Activision Blizzard said in a news release.

The chairperson of the committee is Dawn Ostroff, who has been a member of Activision Blizzard's board since June 2020. Ostroff is currently the chief content and advertising business officer at Spotify. She also held executive-level positions at Conde Nast, 20th Century Fox, and The Walt Disney Company. Another Activision Blizzard board member, Reveta Bowers, is joining the committee. Bowers has been on the board since 2018. She previously worked at The Center for Early Education for 44 years, from 1972-2016.

Activision Blizzard also said in its news release that it is looking to add another member to the Board. "The company is working to add a new, diverse director to the Board," it said.

As for what the Workplace Responsibility Committee will do, Activision Blizzard said it will be charged to "require management to develop key performance indicators and/or other means to measure progress and ensure accountability."

Kotick and other Activision Blizzard executives will provide "frequent progress reports" to the committee, and the committee will share its findings "regularly" with the Board of Directors. The committee may also work with "outside consultants or advisers," including independent legal teams, as part of its efforts to improve company culture, Activision Blizzard said.

"The Activision Blizzard Board is committed to ensuring a healthy workplace in which all employees feel valued, safe, and respected. Our audit committee has been kept apprised of developments, including the EEOC and DFEH investigations," Activision Blizzard said. "The Board supports the numerous steps taken by management since 2018 to improve workplace culture, including centralizing the human resources function in 2019 to ensure greater consistency and accountability, strengthening and increasing training, and, most recently, improving methods for reporting and responding to complaints of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation."

The Board of Directors has been meeting bi-weekly for "in-depth assessments" on Activision Blizzard's efforts since October, the company said, adding that members now receive "detailed written weekly reports" to chart progress. The Board was also quick to come out in support of Kotick in the wake of the WSJ's report, standing behind the executive and saying they remained committed to having Kotick continue to lead the company.

Activision Blizzard acknowledged that it decided to form the Workplace Responsibility Committee and staff it with Board members to show the company was taking this matter seriously.

"It is clear that current circumstances demand increased board engagement. Formation of the committee and additional future changes will help facilitate additional direct oversight and transparency and ensure that the company's commitments to Activision Blizzard's workforce are carried out with urgency and impact. This has been a challenging time across the company, but the board is confident in the actions underway to set the company up for future success," it said.

Kotick recently said he would consider stepping down as Activision Blizzard CEO if the company can't fix its issues "with speed." More than 1,700 Activision Blizzard employees have signed a petition calling on Kotick to resign.

In the wake of the WSJ's report, executives from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have shared statements expressing concerns about the situation. The report was published on November 16, but the controversy dates back to this summer and earlier when the state of California sued Activision Blizzard over claims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

For more, check out the full timeline of events involving Activision Blizzard and the California lawsuit it's facing.

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