blizzard Blizzard Co-Leader Jen Oneal Leaves Blizzard, Mike Ybarra Becomes Sole Leader

[Stan 5,252]

Jen Oneal, named co-leader of Blizzard Entertainment in August 2021, has left the company.

Activision Blizzard announced that Jen Oneal is stepping down from her role as Blizzard co-leader, according to Venture Beat. As a result, Mike Ybarra will become the sole leader of Blizzard. 

Mike Ybarra and Jen Oneal were named co-leaders after J. Allen Brack departed the company on August 3, 2021. Here is what Oneal had to say about her departure:

“I am doing this not because I am without hope for Blizzard, quite the opposite — I’m inspired by the passion of everyone here, working towards meaningful, lasting change with their whole hearts,” Oneal notes in her goodbye letter. “This energy has inspired me to step out and explore how I can do more to have games and diversity intersect, and hopefully make a broader industry impact that will benefit Blizzard (and other studios) as well. While I am not totally sure what form that will take, I am excited to embark on a new journey to find out.”

Jen Oneal was the head of Vicarious Visions, which Activision absorbed into Blizzard earlier this year. Make sure to read the whole post over at Venture Beat.

[Prophet001 599]

Hmm... wonder if we'll ever know why she left.

[Razortotem 33]

4 minutes ago, Prophet001 said:

Hmm... wonder if we'll ever know why she left.

If the last sentence is any clue, I have a hunch she's probably as unhappy on how everything down with the VV team. She likely didn't feel like part of the Blizzard future because the VV team couldnt have their own.

[Calorat 78]

Wow, lasted less than 3 months.  Great sign for the company going forward.  I mean something had to have drastically changed in 3 months cause I mean really she was on the job for 3 months so either she really didn't like something or the even higher ups didn't like what she was doing ( but how much could she have really done in 3 months?)

[Dejo93 1,023]

Lmao, so much for the Lady in charge XD

[Swarf 111]

There's definitely a real story there that we'll never know.

[Arcling 898]

This reminds me of Jeff Kaplan's departure. Very sudden, at least this is what is shown to the public, there might be more to it. Also this quote: "This energy has inspired me to step out and explore how I can do more to have games and diversity intersect". Similar wording to Brack's reason for "leaving to explore new business opportunities".

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by Arcling

[elmurufdd 45]

someone send blizz some apples so they can make some turnovers 

[Logarithm 40]

I'm fine with her gone. Someone who's whole goal in the industry is to "woke" it instead of just trying to make fun games isn't someone I want in charge at Blizz.

[BobTheHuman 72]

2 hours ago, Stan said:

how I can do more to have games and diversity intersect, and hopefully make a broader industry impact

Well, aren't you a bright and fresh ray of sunshine? Thanks for letting me know Jen, I'll be sure to ignore any product you've been involved in. The co-leader situation was ridiculous anyway, but now Blizzard is ''headed'' by what seems to be a nice guy in a position lesser than that of JAB. Activision will say 'Jump!' and Ybarra will ask 'How high?' I'm not optimistic about Blizzard's future at all.

[Dejo93 1,023]

14 hours ago, Logarithm said:

I'm fine with her gone. Someone who's whole goal in the industry is to "woke" it instead of just trying to make fun games isn't someone I want in charge at Blizz.

Based

[lolblizzard 38]

now the only one left is the boost seller himself 😄 maybe they should rename blizzard into ybarras boosting service "give me your money i show you the endgame"

[Atroxus 0]

I doubt we will ever know for certain, but I just can't see someone taking a CEO level position, then bailing in under 6 months unless there are major issues. I also can't see a company donating a million dollars on behalf of a CEO who leaves under those circumstances, unless it is hush money to keep them from blabbing about something shady.

Edited November 5, 2021 by Atroxus

[Lithari 194]

On 11/2/2021 at 10:07 PM, Calorat said:

Wow, lasted less than 3 months.  Great sign for the company going forward.  I mean something had to have drastically changed in 3 months cause I mean really she was on the job for 3 months so either she really didn't like something or the even higher ups didn't like what she was doing ( but how much could she have really done in 3 months?)

She likely wanted to do stuff they didn't like and people in power, man or woman, do not like to lose that power, its how it is....all people with power want, is more power.

Or, she tried to be controlling and the men just didn't bow down to her demands and she left...both are possible reasons.