Bulletins

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is taking a pay cut

The company is also waiving mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment and discrimination claims.

Activision HQ

Activision Blizzard was sued over alleged sexist and toxic workplace culture

Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick told employees that he is taking a pay cut, amid numerous allegations of a sexist and toxic workplace culture that have rocked the company. Kotick previously had a $155 million pay package approved by the company's board.

Kotick announced the change, which will reduce his salary to $62,500, in a letter to employees. The letter also said the company will waive "required arbitration of sexual harassment and discrimination claims" in response to employee feedback, and will "increase visibility on pay equity." Kotick also committed the company to increasing its percentage of women and non-binary employees by 50%, and said it will invest $250 million to help achieve that.

Activision Blizzard has been under fire for months after a lawsuit was filed alleging sexual harassment and discrimination at the company. Numerous senior executives have resigned, and the SEC opened an investigation into the company. The company's stock price has tumbled amid the crisis, falling over 16% since the start of July.

Shakeel Hashim

Shakeel Hashim ( @shakeelhashim) is a former growth manager at Protocol, based in London. He was previously an analyst at Finimize covering business and economics, and a digital journalist at News UK. His writing has appeared in The Economist and its book, Uncommon Knowledge.

activision blizzard
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Bulletins