Jump to content
FORUMS
Sign in to follow this  
Stan

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

Recommended Posts

FbsgUaK.jpg

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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?)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 by Arcling

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

  • Thanks 1
  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
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.

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
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

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 by Atroxus

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
Sign in to follow this  

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

  • Similar Content

    • By Staff
      Blizzard games like World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Overwatch 2 might soon make a comeback in China, thanks to Blizzard reportedly teaming up again with NetEase.
      The news comes from Core Esports, which suggests Blizzard's game services could be back by the end of March or the beginning of April.
      After 14 years of partnership, Blizzard and NetEase hit a rough patch in 2022, leading to failed negotiations. Consequently, when the licensing agreement concluded on January 23, 2023, Blizzard's game services were suspended across mainland China.
      For more details, you can check out the article in Chinese or find an English translation by Amy Chen on esports.gg.
    • By Staff
      IMAGE CREDIT: DAVID PAUL MORRIS/BLOOMBERG 
      According to WSJ, Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, has floated the idea of buying TikTok to potential partners.
      Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has reportedly shown interest in purchasing TikTok, as legislation in the U.S. threatens to ban or force the sale of the popular app over national security concerns.
      Kotick is said to be seeking partners for the potential acquisition, discussing the opportunity with notable figures including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over TikTok's data privacy practices and its ties to China, with U.S. lawmakers pushing for decisive action.
      You can read the whole news piece over at WSJ.
      Bobby Kotick left his position at Activision Blizzard in December 2023 after Microsoft finalized its purchase of the company. Post-acquisition, he reportedly received over $375 million, as detailed by Forbes.
      Source: WSJ 
    • By Stan
      With Johanna Faires recently taking on the role of the new President at Blizzard, let's delve into the history of Blizzard Presidents from 1991 up to the present.
      Allen Adham served as President from 1991 to 1998. Mike Morhaime held the position of President and CEO from 1998 to 2018. J. Allen Brack assumed the role of President between 2018 and 2021. In 2021, Jen O'neal was named Co-Leader of Blizzard alongside Mike Ybarra. However, she chose to leave the company after just three months. Following her departure, Mike Ybarra took over as President until a few weeks ago when he also announced his departure from the company on January 25, 2024. Johanna Faires was appointed as Blizzard's President on January 29, 2024.
      We've come across a Reddit post where someone alleges to have worked at Blizzard during Mike Morhaime's tenure as President, continuing through Ybarra's leadership. We can't vouch for the accuracy of their statement, but here's what they had to share with the community.
      Source: Reddit
    • By Staff
      Blizzard Entertainment has named Johanna Faires as its new president, taking over from Mike Ybarra, who left the company last week.
      Before this role, Faires served as the General Manager of the Call of Duty franchise at Activision. She previously spent 12 years working at the NFL.
      “It is important to note that Call of Duty’s way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard’s realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success,”
      "I’ve discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and I’m walking into this role with sensitivity to those dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard, as we begin to explore taking our universes to even higher heights.”
      This leadership change follows the announcement by Phil Spencer, the Head of Xbox, and Matt Booty, the President of Game Studios, about massive layoffs across Activision Blizzard and Xbox.
      Faires will start on February 5 and she will hold a town hall shortly afterward at the Blizzard campus in Irvine, California.
      Johanna sent the following mail to Blizzard employees this morning:
      (Source)
      Dear Blizzard,
      Though my official first day with you all is February 5, I want to let you know immediately that it is an honor to join you next week in this new capacity. I do so humbly and in awe of all that Blizzard has stood for and delivered to the world for over thirty years. Today also brings some mixed emotions. The loss of talented teammates in recent days is hard to hold side-by-side with the immense excitement I feel about joining Blizzard – and building on the momentum you’ve created for Blizzard’s next chapter.
      I want to thank Matt for the introduction, bring some further clarity to today’s announcement, and share more about how I see our future together at Blizzard. I understand this is a lot to take in. The news of my appointment may no doubt bring up a range of reactions, questions, even concerns.
      Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities. It is important to note that Call of Duty’s way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard’s realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success. I’ve discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and I’m walking into this role with sensitivity to those dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard, as we begin to explore taking our universes to even higher heights.
      I am committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our games, each unique and special in their own right. I’m optimistic about our ability to serve our current and future player communities, and to further amplify the shared passion for greatness, polish, and creative mastery that is a hallmark of Blizzard’s approach to game-making.
      Next week, I will be in Irvine and I am eager to connect with as many of you as possible. I will be scheduling informal (and totally optional) meet-and-greets, where I want to hear more from people across the organization. Those of you who cannot make it to those gatherings or aren’t located in Irvine, please feel free to email me. We are also planning a town hall meeting to be held in the near future.
      A few personal facts about me: my #1 job in life is raising two amazing boys. In addition to parenthood, a typical week for me includes finding time for daily yoga and prayer, and of course, playing video games (big Diablo IV fan over here!). Throughout, the joy I find in games – and working with those who make them – only deepens.
      I remain inspired by Blizzard’s iconic legacy, and the transformative role gaming has played in my life and in the lives of others. I cannot wait to get going – to listen, to learn, to empower, and to collaborate with all of you on our bold and bright future together. Together, may we forge many legendary days ahead.
      Johanna
      For more details, check out the full article on Bloomberg.
    • By Staff
      In the wake of Microsoft's decision to lay off nearly 1,900 employees from its Activision Blizzard and Xbox divisions, there's growing speculation about a strategic shift in customer support for ABK games. Jez Corden, the Managing Editor at Windows Central, has shed light on this development through a series of tweets.
      Corden's tweets reveal that Microsoft is considering a major restructure in its customer support approach. According to his sources, the tech giant is contemplating outsourcing the majority of its internal customer support roles for ABK games to third-party companies based overseas. This move, Corden notes, marks a significant change for ABK, which was previously known for its robust in-house customer support team.
      Placeholder for tweet 1750587911249236224 Additionally, Corden pointed out that Microsoft has also begun dismantling several departments, notably those responsible for the distribution of Xbox games in physical retail stores. However, he emphasizes that this doesn't necessarily signal Microsoft's withdrawal from the physical gaming market.
      Placeholder for tweet 1750590022842278391 Placeholder for tweet 1750596402093216146 The restructuring appears to have wider implications across the company, as Corden reports a substantial reduction in community manager roles. This development could potentially impact the level of community engagement and support for Xbox games.
      Placeholder for tweet 1750594627088904334
×
×
  • Create New...