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Blizzard’s new VP might be tasked with fixing its office tradition

Written by Jeff Lampkin

Activision Blizzard is constant a hiring spree in gentle of its ongoing harassment scandal. Blizzard has hired Jessica Martinez as its first Vice President of Tradition. She’ll each implement and broaden the sport studio’s tradition technique, and lead a studying and improvement staff that can assist create a piece atmosphere the place individuals really feel “secure, valued” and desirous to cooperate.

Martinez is a 14-year veteran of Disney, the place she was a Chief of Workers and suggested each the Chief Safety Workplace and the parks’ Chief Know-how & Digital Officer. She was recognized for constructing a diversity- and values-focused tradition, in response to Blizzard, and led efforts to harmonize safety when Disney purchased key Fox studios and channels.

The transfer comes simply weeks after Activision Blizzard employed variety chief Kristen Hines. It additionally follows months of worker shuffles and organizational efforts within the wake of the scandal. The writer has ousted or disciplined quite a few employees for taking part in or tolerating a hostile work tradition, together with former Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. It additionally launched a “Office Accountability Committee” to struggle discrimination and harassment. 

Whether or not or not these measures might be sufficient nonetheless is not clear. Activision Blizzard chief Bobby Kotick has remained regardless of stress to resign and a New York Metropolis lawsuit. The Communications Employees of America union, in the meantime, has filed a grievance with US labor officers accusing the corporate of silencing speak about harassment lawsuits. Whereas Martinez could convey precious cultural enhancements, there’s nonetheless proof the agency is proof against some types of change.

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About the author

Jeff Lampkin

Jeff Lampkin was the first writer to have joined gamepolar.com. He has since then inculcated very effective writing and reviewing culture at GamePolar which rivals have found impossible to imitate. His approach has been to work on the basics while the whole world was focusing on the superstructures.