Johanna Faries Appointed as New President of Blizzard Entertainment

Former Call of Duty GM to Take Helm Amidst Recent Layoffs, Pledges Deep Respect for Blizzard and Its Distinct Culture

Johanna Faries, former Call of Duty general manager, has been appointed as the new president of Blizzard Entertainment, succeeding Mike Ybarra who left amidst recent layoffs.
Faries, who previously worked for the NFL for over a decade, joined Activision in 2018 and has been overseeing the Call of Duty franchise since 2021.
In her introductory email to Blizzard employees, Faries acknowledged the recent layoffs and the distinct cultures of Activision, Blizzard, and King, pledging to approach her new role with sensitivity and deep respect for Blizzard.
She emphasized her commitment to helping Blizzard thrive and expressed her excitement about joining the company, despite the mixed emotions due to the recent loss of talented teammates.
Faries is set to start her new role on February 5, and plans to hold a town hall meeting with employees shortly after.