Blizzard Entertainment Executive to Leave Company, Bloomberg Reports

--Chacko Sonny, executive producer of Overwatch at Activision Blizzard Inc.'s Blizzard Entertainment unit, is leaving the company, the latest high-ranking executive to leave following allegations that the company fostered a toxic workplace culture, Bloomberg reported.

--Chacko Sonny, who headed the Overwatch franchise, told staff he intends to leave the company on Friday, Bloomberg said, adding that a spokesman for Activision Blizzard had confirmed his intention to leave.

-- Federal securities regulators have launched a wide-ranging investigation into Activision Blizzard, including how the videogame-publishing giant handled employees' allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination, The Wall Street Journal reported.

-- The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Activision in late July, accusing the company of paying women less than their male counterparts and of giving women fewer career opportunities, The Journal reported. The agency also alleged that Activision ignored complaints by female employees of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation and maintained a "frat-boy" culture, primarily at its Blizzard Entertainment unit.

-- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has also been examining allegations of gender-based harassment at Activision since at least May 2020, The Journal reported.

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/blizzard-executive-overseeing-hit-game-leaves-in-latest-exodus?sref=cvDKYV7o

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 21, 2021 16:22 ET (20:22 GMT)

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