Johanna Faries will succeed Mike Ybarra as the head of Blizzard Entertainment. She previously headed up the e-sports division of Call of Duty at Activision, among other things
The past few weeks have been anything but quiet for Blizzard. While the dismissal of almost 2,000 permanent employees has been causing a stir, the final details have been finalized in the background and now it’s out: The successor to Mike Ybarra, who was also dismissed, will be Johanna Faries as Blizzard President.
We explain who will have a decisive influence on Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and Starcraft in the future.
From the NFL to Call of Duty to Blizzard
Hi all. Today I sent the below note to @Blizzard_Ent As for X: I play to stay in “listen mode” here, but trust I’m tuned in! As for me: a typical day=work life+yogi life+games life. Currently on heavy rotation: D4, COD, BG3. Feeling blessed & grateful🙏🏽Onward. ✨ pic.twitter.com/Ph8XgsTcpk
– Johanna Faries (@Joh_Burg) January 29, 2024
Who is Johanna Faries? She is new to Blizzard, but a familiar face in the management team at Activision. She was most recently General Manager at Call of Duty, where she was responsible for e-sports, among other things. And before that, she was responsible for marketing strategy at the American NFL (National Football League) for 12 years.
And she certainly did not go unnoticed. For example, she according to her Link In profile received the award as Most Powerful Woman in Sports of the Year
in 2020 from Sports Illustrated
Your letter to all employees at Blizzard
At the same time as the announcement of her assumption of office on February 5, 2024, thousands of identical emails also went out, because all (still) Blizzard employees received a message from Johanna Faries.
This one introduces, among other things:
The loss of talented team members in the last few days and the excitement of the new tasks are difficult to reconcile.
In addition to other expected content, which understandably belongs in every inaugural message of this kind, there are also statements that deal specifically with the future of Blizzard. She also makes it clear that she knows that Blizzard is not the same as Activision:
It’s important to note that the way Call of Duty competes every day to deliver something to players is often different from what Blizzard’s fantastic games do: Each offers different gameplay experiences, communities that support the game, and different models of success. I’ve discussed this with Blizzard’s leadership team, and I begin this role with a sensitivity to these dynamics and a deep respect for Blizzard
Personal details from the email: At the end she reveals some details from her life, these are:
- Mother of two sons
- Daily yoga exercises
- She prays every day
- Video games are a great hobby
What would you like to write to Johanna Faries when she starts her new job? What’s on your wish list for the years 2024/25/26? Please write your kind and respectful words in the comments below
