Shortly after Activision Blizzard shareholders voted to approve a report looking at the company’s anti-harassment efforts, members also voted to approve its list of nominees for the Board of Directors, a list that includes current CEO Bobby Kotick.
According to a document filed on June 21, almost 534 million shareholders voted in favor of the proposed Board of Directors, while only 62.5 million opposed the motion and 2 million abstained. Suffice it to say that the proposed article passed easily.
The vote comes after Kotick was repeatedly criticized for his part in maintaining Activision Blizzard’s toxic work culture. Last December, the CEO was accused of hiding what he knew about accusations of harassment and assault, as well as threatening to kill an aide years earlier. Yet despite repeated calls by employees — and shareholders — for Kotick’s resignation, it appears he will be around until 2023.
As for whether Kotick will remain CEO of Activision Blizzard, it’s still too early to tell. Right now, the company is in the process of being bought by Microsoft in a landmark $70 billion deal. Some reports claim that Kotick will receive a “$15 million dollar golden parachute” after the purchase and his departure is imminent, while others are unsure what will happen after the acquisition.
Earlier this month, Activision Blizzard published the results of its own internal investigation through its investor site. While the report acknowledged individual instances of harassment, it stated that there was “no evidence” that senior executives ignored harassment or withheld information from the Board.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a portion of the proceeds if you purchase something featured on our site.