After Acquisition Completed, Activision Blizzard CEO Will Last Until The End Of 2023

Activision CEO Blizzard will leave the company in 2024 (photo: Microsoft)

JAKARTA - Nearly two years since the agreement was announced, on Friday, October 13, Microsoft finally completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard worth 69 billion US dollars (Rp967 trillion).

In an email sent to its employees, Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick said he would remain CEO until the end of 2023, after Microsoft acquired Call of Duty publisher.

I've been saying for a long time that I'm fully committed to helping this transition. Phil has asked me to remain as CEO of the crew, report to him, and we have agreed that I will do so until the end of 2023," Kotick wrote in the email, citing VGC.

"We both hope to work together in a smooth integration for our team and players," Kotick wrote further.

Initial reports stated that he would leave unless the acquisition failed to get approval. Now, he has reported to Phil Spencer, and said his certainty of leaving the company by 2024.

Kotick has long been a controversial figure in his company. During his tenure, he has been involved in several scandals, including allegations that executives deliberately ignore or try to underestimate reports of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

On the other hand, this deal is Microsoft's biggest acquisition, exceeding its acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016, with a total deal of US$26 billion, and acquisition of Bethesda in 2021 of around US$7.5 billion.