Activision Blizzard Hires Senior Executives from Disney and Delta

Rhea-AI Summary

Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) has appointed Julie Hodges as Chief People Officer and Sandeep Dube as Chief Commercial Officer. Hodges joins from The Walt Disney Company, bringing over 30 years of HR experience, effective September 21. Dube, from Delta Airlines, starts September 27, overseeing global sales and strategy. CEO Bobby Kotick highlighted their roles in enhancing workplace inclusion and driving revenue growth. Hodges will lead HR initiatives, while Dube aims to expand commercial efforts and player engagement.

Positive

• Hiring seasoned leaders from reputable companies to enhance workplace culture and revenue growth.
• Julie Hodges' extensive HR experience expected to improve diversity and employee engagement.
• Sandeep Dube's background in commercial strategy may foster significant revenue growth.

Negative

• Concerns regarding continuity after Claudine Naughton's departure from HR leadership.
• Potential challenges in integrating new strategies with existing company culture.

Julie Hodges of The Walt Disney Company to become Chief People Officer

Sandeep Dube of Delta Airlines to become Chief Commercial Officer

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) today announced the hiring of two senior executives to help the company build a more inclusive workplace as well as diversify and grow its revenue.

Julie Hodges, Senior Vice President, Corporate HR and Compensation, Benefits and Talent Acquisition at The Walt Disney Company, will become Chief People Officer, effective September 21. Sandeep Dube, Senior Vice President, Revenue Management at Delta Airlines, will become Chief Commercial Officer, effective September 27.

“These two outstanding leaders from companies with exceptional reputations will help us achieve our goal of becoming the best company to work for in the entertainment industry while growing our reach, engagement and player investment,” said Bobby Kotick, Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard.

Ms. Hodges brings more than three decades of global human resources experience in entertainment and an impeccable record of shaping corporate culture. She will be responsible for the company’s global talent organization, making Activision Blizzard the destination for top talent. In her role, she will lead all aspects of human resources, including diversity, equity and inclusion, talent acquisition, employee experience, learning and development, compensation and benefits and workforce planning.

“I can’t think of a better person to join our team and help lead our ongoing commitment to an inclusive workplace,” Kotick said. “Julie is the seasoned leader we need to ensure we are the most inspiring, equitable and emulated entertainment company in the world.”

“I share the company’s belief that a work environment should welcome all perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds,” Hodges said. “A workforce where everyone feels valued is critical to the success of our business, as is a trusting, engaging and safe environment that encourages creativity and innovation and in which all employees can thrive. It takes a collective effort to do this, and I’m looking forward to ensuring that we support the diversity of our talent to bring our people together and continue creating amazing entertainment.”

In her 32 years at Disney, Hodges led Human Resources for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, the Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence, HRBP for Worldwide Operations, and Disney University/Learning and Development, Organization Development and Cast Research. Hodges earned a BS degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She replaces Claudine Naughton, who is leaving the company.

Mr. Dube will oversee Activision’s global Sales and Go-To-Market teams. He will be responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategy and delivering on the company’s revenue growth plan.

“Sandeep is a rare leader who not only has the ability to expand our global go-to-market teams, but also bring his diverse experience from an accomplished career to unite our commercial group,” Mr. Kotick said. “Our mission is to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. While Sandeep connected the world through air travel at Delta, he created a growth-oriented culture that was focused on the very best customer experiences. The innovations he inspired created incredible customer loyalty. We are excited to continue our work on revenue growth with an even greater focus on recognizing and rewarding our players.”

Mr. Dube said, “I couldn’t be more excited to join this team and work together to continue building our inclusive culture and to expand our audiences.”

Before joining Activision, Mr. Dube led revenue management, product strategy, and commercial delivery at Delta. Notably, he played a key role in building the company’s loyalty program and steering the airline through the volatile demand environment created by the pandemic. Prior to Delta, Sandeep worked for more than a decade in the banking industry as a commercial and marketing leader, driving revenue growth for consumer-lending businesses.

Dube holds an engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. He is filling the role left vacant after Armin Zerza was promoted to Chief Financial Officer earlier this year.

About Activision Blizzard

Our mission, to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment has never been more important. Through communities rooted in our video game franchises we enable hundreds of millions of people to experience joy, thrill and achievement. We enable social connections through the lens of fun, and we foster purpose and a sense of accomplishment through healthy competition. Like sport, but with greater accessibility, our players can find purpose and meaning through competitive gaming. Video games, unlike any other social or entertainment media, have the ability to break down the barriers that can inhibit tolerance and understanding. Celebrating differences is at the core of our culture and ensures we can create games for players of diverse backgrounds in the 190 countries our games are played.

As a member of the Fortune 500 and as a component company of the S&P 500, we have an extraordinary track record of delivering superior shareholder returns for over 30 years.

Our enduring franchises are some of the world’s most popular, including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Hearthstone®, Diablo®, StarCraft®, Candy Crush™, Bubble Witch™, Pet Rescue™ and Farm Heroes™. Our sustained success has enabled the company to support corporate social responsibility initiatives that are directly tied to our franchises. As an example, our Call of Duty Endowment has helped find employment for over 85,000 veterans.

Learn more information about Activision Blizzard and how we connect and engage the world through epic entertainment on the company's website, www.activisionblizzard.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations. These and other risks are described in the Company’s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210914006077/en/

Kelvin Liu

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Activision Blizzard

Kelvin.liu@activision.com

310-255-2213

Source: Activision Blizzard, Inc.

FAQ

Who is the new Chief People Officer at Activision Blizzard?

Julie Hodges, formerly of The Walt Disney Company, has been appointed Chief People Officer at Activision Blizzard.

What is the role of Sandeep Dube at Activision Blizzard?

Sandeep Dube has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for developing commercial strategy and overseeing global sales.

When do the new executives at Activision Blizzard start?

Julie Hodges will start on September 21, and Sandeep Dube will begin on September 27.

What are the expected impacts of these appointments on Activision Blizzard?

The appointments aim to enhance workplace inclusivity and drive revenue growth through improved commercial strategies.