Blizzard Hires Disney Veteran as New Vice President of Culture

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that it has hired Jessica Martinez, a 14-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company’s employee experience team, as its new (and first) vice president of culture.

The studio announced the news in a tweetas reported by Eurogamerrevealed that the new hires are part of an “ongoing initiative to create a more diverse, equal and inclusive work culture where people at all levels can learn.” , develop and bring their most creative selves to work.”

Blizzard said that Martinez and the Blizzard leadership team – her official title is Vice President, Head of Culture – will be responsible for developing and executing the studio’s cultural strategy, “ensures alignment. across all groups and functions and improve learning and talent development programs”.

“When you create an environment that prioritizes people, where teams feel safe, valued, and work together for a common purpose, everyone thrives – employees, players and businesses. ,” wrote Martinez in Blizzard blog post. “Making our connected values ​​visible in what we do is how we put humanity back into business.”

She will work with Blizzard’s development and learning team, and also work closely with the media and events team and each “authorization and functional leader.”

At Disney, Martinez leads strategy, communications, operations, and employee experience, serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer and key strategic advisor to the Chief Security Officer and Chief Technology & Engineering Officer. Digital by Disney Parks & Resorts.

The blog post reads: “In addition to leading fundamental organizational change, including leading security integration for the acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Jessica is best known for creating a platform value-oriented culture that connects global groups and celebrates diversity”.

This hire comes after months of ongoing lawsuits at Activision Blizzard, and you can read Game informantcoverage of this. Blizzard has been trying to reshape the public image amid these lawsuits, firing many of those named in reports of toxic office culture and allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination, etc.

Following the restructuring, Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra were appointed as the new co-leaders of Blizzard, but Oneal left shortly after, citing that she had no confidence in Activision’s leadership (thanks). , Polygon). Back when Ybarra was named the new co-leader, Blizzard said he is “deeply committed to all of our employees; with the work going forward to ensure Blizzard is the safest, friendliest workplace possible for women and people of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or background; to maintain and strengthen our values ​​and rebuild your trust. “It looks like the hiring of Martinez is that Blizzard is speaking up to uphold that statement from last year.

[Source: Eurogamer]