Johanna Faries Appointed as New President of Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment has named Johanna Faries as its new president, effective February 5, succeeding Mike Ybarra who departed the previous week. Faries initially joined Activision Blizzard in 2018 as the commissioner of Call of Duty esports and most recently served as general manager of Call of Duty. Prior to her tenure at Activision Blizzard, Faries spent eleven years at the NFL, where she held the position of vice president of club business development. Upon announcing her appointment to the staff, Faries expressed her sentiments, stating, "It is a privilege to join you all in this new capacity, and I do so with humility and admiration for the legacy Blizzard has built over three decades. Today's announcement brings mixed emotions, as the recent loss of talented colleagues is difficult to reconcile with the excitement of joining Blizzard and contributing to its future success." Faries further emphasized her commitment, saying, "I am dedicated to supporting Blizzard's growth, while prioritizing the well-being of our team members and the unique qualities of each of our games."