Call of Duty GM named new Blizzard President

Call of Duty general manager (GM) Johanna Faries has been appointed President of Blizzard Entertainment.

The change of leadership comes after Mike Ybarra departed the entertainment powerhouse after Microsoft cut almost 2000 jobs across multiple divisions after acquring Activision-Blizzard fro $69 billion.

Faries joined Activision in 2018 as the head honcho of Call of Duty's esports circuit before becoming head of the entire franchise in April 2021. The confirmation of her role was made in a memo sent to staff on January 29, 2024.

In the statement, Faries spoke on the differences between the Call of Duty franchise and other titles that fall under the Blizzard umbrella: "It is important to note that Call of Duty's way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard's realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success."

Faries will begin her role on February 5, two days before the expected start date of Season 2 of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Aside from multiplayer and battle royale, footage of a cancelled futuristic title has appeared online, much to the curiosity of the community.

As expected, fans of Blizzard titles have congratulated her on taking up the Presidential role at Bilzzard, a company responsible for the likes of Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Hearthstone. Xbox-focused content creator Klobrille said: "Congratulations! Here is hope for a strong Blizzard Entertainment future."

Faries, newly-appointed president of Blizzard Entertainment, adds: "I am committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our games, each unique and special in their own right."

Blizzard remains responsible to some of the largest franchises in the gaming industry. With Faries at the helm, it marks the start of a new era for the publisher under the Microsoft banner and a wealth of experience at its forefront.