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[SegaShack]

I'm wondering if Bob Kotick is out as Activision CEO after this acquisition. By out I mean in a few months he "resigns to move on to better opportunities" (aka a corporate America executive firing).

The lawsuit and his supposed role in enabling harassment in the company is a very bad look. I can see MS wanting to get rid of the old guard so to speak where they can.

 

[Kuranghi]

From the cannon pointing at the sun?

 

[FranXico]

He's staying, it was confirmed.

 

[Bartski]

WSJ News Exclusive | Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard in All-Cash Deal Valued at $75 Billion

After the all-cash deal valued at about $75 billion closes, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is expected to leave the videogame heavyweight that has been roiled by claims of workplace misconduct.

www.wsj.com

Microsoft said in its announcement that Bobby Kotick would remain as Activision’s CEO following the deal, and report to Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer.

Microsoft Corp. MSFT -1.29% agreed to buy Activision Blizzard Inc. ATVI +29.04% in an all-cash deal valued at $68.7 billion, using its largest acquisition by far to grab a videogame heavyweight that has been roiled by claims of workplace misconduct.

Activision shares surged nearly 38% in premarket trading Tuesday after The Wall Street Journal reported it was close to a deal with Microsoft, whose shares fell 1.6%.

Buying Activision would increase Microsoft’s videogame revenue by about half. Analysts estimate that Activision’s sales in 2021 totaled $8.7 billion, according to FactSet, while Microsoft reported $15.4 billion in gaming revenue for the fiscal year through June, accounting for about 9% of its total.

 

[AV]

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/wall-street-journal-bobby-kotick-to-remain-ceo-of-activision-blizzard-post-acquisition.1627902/

 

[SegaShack]

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/wall-street-journal-bobby-kotick-to-remain-ceo-of-activision-blizzard-post-acquisition.1627902/

Wow that's pretty abysmal. Guess he makes the company so much money that everyone overlooks all the awful crap he enabled.

 

[plushyp]

Hopefully Kotick is booted out after the transition period.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

If I’m honest, this has lowered my opinion of Phil Spencer a bit. I understand it’s a money making business but if Phil is all about inclusion and making work a comfortable place (which I believe he has championed before) he should set a good example and look to remove Kottick from post as soon as he is able.

 

[nightmare-slain]

no way will he stay.

he might stay another year or two but he's gonna go.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Bob Kotick what a crazy name.

 

[odhiex]

That's no good, hope that he will be kicked out as soon as possible.

 

[kingpotato]

It isn't uncommon for leadership to stay on until a full transition has been completed. It could take years for an organization of this size.

 

[Drew1440]

With a nice pay increase as a result.

 

[Honey Bunny]

If he goes he's substantially richer with the payout too, anybody acting like this is some sort of middle finger to him is deluded

 

[GHG]

He wins whatever happens now.

Twitter in tatters.

 

[CGiRanger]

It is humorous how he'll report to Phil, who chided him publicly after the scandal.

 

[ckaneo]

He will not be around after the deal goes through

 

[azertydu91]

It is humorous how he'll report to Phil, who chided him publicly after the scandal.

And it is very hypocritical to keep him after that, Kotick staying is probably the worst news of this acquisition for activision/blizzard fans.

 

[GHG]

It is humorous how he'll report to Phil, who chided him publicly after the scandal.

Phil worked under Ballmer.

He's seen worse.

 

[Droxcy]

Sure the rebrand and structure will come but the drop in value and price tag was too good to pass on and let it slip currently.

The value over x amount of years drives the decision all the stuff microsoft/xbox could fund with this also hopefully bring better resources and a revamp to the dev teams.

 

[nikolino840]

no way will he stay.

he might stay another year or two but he's gonna go.

Is hard to take down a supreme boss like kotick .. need a couple of years

 

[TheMan]

Don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, Kotick made all involved a LOT of money with COD and other franchises (for example I think he was in charge during the music game craze), so it's not like he's necessarily a bad businessman. Businesses care about money first and foremost, so getting rid of him would probably have tanked their stock. No no.

On the other his reign has included some pretty bad abuse which MS seems to publicly stand against.

I think they'll keep him on for a while and then he'll retire gracefully to his italian villa to fuck big titty prostitutes in peace, as you do.

 

[SantaC]

This dude is harder to get rid of then all the covid in the world.

 

[Dural]

With a nice pay increase as a result.

If he goes he's substantially richer with the payout too, anybody acting like this is some sort of middle finger to him is deluded

Don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, Kotick made all involved a LOT of money with COD and other franchises (for example I think he was in charge during the music game craze), so it's not like he's necessarily a bad businessman. Businesses care about money first and foremost, so getting rid of him would probably have tanked their stock. No no.

On the other his reign has included some pretty bad abuse which MS seems to publicly stand against.

I think they'll keep him on for a while and then he'll retire gracefully to his italian villa to fuck big titty prostitutes in peace, as you do.

Kotick has been CEO for 31 years, he bought the company in 1991 when it was in bankruptcy. The guy took them from bankruptcy to being worth $80bn.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

 

[AJUMP23]

He is going to star in the sequel to Moneyball, it is called Monkeyball.

 

[ReBurn]

Bobby will leave to pursue other opportunities the moment the deal is finalized.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

I think MS bought Activitizion because due to all those allegations the board wanted to leave with Bobby. It was just an apportunity. Still 70b. It 90% of Nintendo basically.

 

[Fake]

Twitter is a hell of place. People saying Microsoft bought Activision just to fire Bobby Kotick lmao.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Twitter has no clue how these things work, because Twitter is fueled by emotions instead of logic.

 

[Kenshin775]

Probably leaves after the deal is finalized next year. Its time for a change. And isn't he retirement age already? He probably takes his bag of cash and rides off into the sunset.

 

[CGiRanger]

Phil worked under Ballmer.

He's seen worse.

 

[VAVA Mk2]

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Keep him. It'd be funny seeing Resetera's dilemma of whether to give Microsoft a platform or not

 

[Leyasu]

His golden parachute is in the 70bn, along with the rest of the boards. They're gone.

 

[Nikana]

WSJ now says he plans to leave when the deal closes.

 

[Leyasu]

Twitter in tatters.

Luckily they have you on there Joe

 

[zcaa0g]

There will just be a transition period of x amount of months and the bye-bye I reckon.

 

[dorkimoe]

He’s out in 2023

 

[Bragr]

He's only staying a short while after the merge, there is no way Microsoft keeps him around for too long.

 

[yurinka]

Phil didn't lie when he said they were reevaluating their relationship with Activision Blizzard.

They bought them, Kotick is confirmed to continue as CEO but won a shit ton of money with the acquisition.

If you ask me, I think he will retire once the transition is complete, maybe a year or two after the acquisition is closed. He's 59 years old. Or -pretty unlikely- may force MS fire him, earning some millions more with the process.

 

[Utherellus]

 

[Buggy Loop]

REEeeeeEee right now

 

[Kenpachii]

he will get booted no way they want that guy in there team.

 

[Deerock71]

Part of the reason they're spending more than ActiBlizz is worth is to give executives like Bobby Golden Parachutes.

 

[Hari Seldon]

The man is going to be making "buy your own island and fill it with whatever girls you want and have no laws that can touch you" money. I doubt he stays on lmao.

 

[dorkimoe]

Lock thread. He’s gone after close

WSJ reporting: "Bobby Kotick, Activision's longtime CEO, is expected to leave after the deal closes, according to people familiar with those plans." https://t.co/XK6o7wEyW2

 

[pasterpl]

 

[GHG]

Luckily they have you on there Joe

Are you suggesting I'm angry Joe?

 

[Bartski]

WSJ edited the article now stating he's expected to leave after conflicting initial statements from MS