Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Leadership History
3 leaders · 1991 to present
Phil Spencer (CEO, Microsoft Gaming) is the CEO of Activision Blizzard, in the role since 2023. The first chief executive was Bobby Kotick, from 1991.
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Spencer | CEO, Microsoft Gaming (parent company oversight) | 2023 | Present | 3 |
| Bobby Kotick | Former CEO, Activision Blizzard | 1991 | 2023 | 32 |
| Michael Morhaime | Co-founder and former President and CEO, Blizzard Entertainment | 1991 | 2018 | 27 |
Activision Blizzard publishes and operates games across console, PC, and mobile through Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and King. Its portfolio includes Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft, Hearthstone, and Candy Crush. Since October 2023, the businesses have operated within Microsoft Gaming rather than as a separately listed company. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
Before the Microsoft acquisition, Activision Blizzard earned revenue from premium game sales, downloadable content, in-game purchases, subscriptions, mobile advertising, and licensing. Its FY2022 filing reported $5.886 billion from in-game, subscription, and other revenue and $1.642 billion from product sales. After the acquisition, the portfolio also supports Microsoft distribution through Xbox, Game Pass, PC stores, and cloud gaming.
CEO, Microsoft Gaming (parent company oversight)
2023 – Present
3 years (current)
Microsoft added Activision Blizzard games to Game Pass and cloud distribution while maintaining Call of Duty availability on other platforms.
After Microsoft completed the acquisition, Activision Blizzard and its businesses joined Microsoft Gaming, which Spencer leads as CEO.
Former CEO, Activision Blizzard
1991 – 2023
32 years
He remained CEO through Microsoft's October 2023 acquisition and departed on December 29, 2023.
Kotick led Activision and then Activision Blizzard through the 2008 combination with Vivendi Games, the 2016 King acquisition, and the 2023 sale to Microsoft.
Co-founder and former President and CEO, Blizzard Entertainment
1991 – 2018
27 years
He continued as Blizzard Entertainment president and CEO after the 2008 Activision Blizzard transaction.
Morhaime co-founded the studio that became Blizzard Entertainment and led it through the launches of Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft.
The portfolio depends on sustained engagement with a limited number of major franchises, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Other challenges include development execution, mobile competition, workplace-culture remediation, labor relations, and integration into Microsoft while honoring platform and cloud commitments made during regulatory review.
Activision Blizzard no longer has its former standalone CEO structure. Its businesses are within Microsoft Gaming under CEO Phil Spencer.
Bobby Kotick departed on December 29, 2023 after remaining through Microsoft's acquisition transition.
Johanna Faries became President of Blizzard Entertainment effective February 5, 2024.
Microsoft completed the acquisition on October 13, 2023, Activision Blizzard stopped being separately listed, and its businesses entered Microsoft Gaming.
Bobby Kotick formally stepped down at the end of 2023, following the successful closure of the massive Microsoft acquisition.
Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions
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