Blizzard’s new VP can be tasked with fixing its office tradition | Engadget

Activision Blizzard is continuous a hiring spree in mild of its ongoing harassment scandal. Blizzard has hired Jessica Martinez as its first Vice President of Culture. She’ll each implement and increase the sport studio’s tradition technique, and lead a studying and improvement workforce that can assist create a piece setting the place folks really feel “safe, valued” and desirous to cooperate.

Martinez is a 14-year veteran of Disney, the place she was a Chief of Staff and suggested each the Chief Security Office and the parks’ Chief Technology & Digital Officer. She was identified for constructing a diversity- and values-focused tradition, in keeping with 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 staff for taking part in or tolerating a hostile work tradition, together with former Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. It additionally launched a “Workplace Responsibility Committee” to combat discrimination and harassment. 

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