Blizzard appoints former Call of Duty general manager as new president

Statue of Illidan Stormrage, the Betrayer

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Blizzard Entertainment has named a new president to replace outgoing leader Mike Ybarra. Johanna Faries will begin her stint as president on February 5.

This move has been confirmed both in a Tweet from Faries herself as well as an internal memo reportedly sent to Blizzard staff on Monday, January 29 (via VGC).

Faries' Tweet included a statement: "It is an honor to join you [...] in this new capacity [...] Today also brings some mixed emotions. The loss of talented teammates in recent days is hard to hold side-by-side with the immense excitement I feel about joining Blizzard."

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This is a reference to the 1,900 staff from across Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Zanimax that Microsoft is set to lay off. This move led to the axing of Blizzard's unnamed survival game project, too.

The statement continued in a diplomatic tone: "The news of my appointment may no doubt bring up a range of reactions, questions, even concerns" Faries went on to say. "Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities."

Faries referred to her past experience as general manager for the Call of Duty franchise as well as her earlier stint as commissioner for Call of Duty esports. "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."

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/Ph8XgsTcpkJanuary 29, 2024

The incoming president also spent 11 years at the NFL (National Football League) where she worked as the vice president of club business development.

In addition to her diplomatic language, Faries also painted a rosy picture of Blizzard's future in her Tweet: "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. I'm optimistic about our ability to serve our current and future player communities, and to further amplify the shared passion for greatness, polish and creative mastery."

In this climate of layoffs and abandoned projects, it's clear that the California-based studio could use a win. Whether or not Faries' appointment will mean a new era for Blizzard remains to be seen, but it seems likely that the Call of Duty veteran will have her work cut out for her.

Blizzard Entertainment has made some of the best MMORPGs and best co-op games ever made.

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An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.

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