The president of Blizzard Leisure, Mike Ybarra, is departing the agency.
The trade vet announced the news on Twitter in a put up the place the exec expressed his gratitude to the employees he as soon as presided over on the World of Warcraft maker. Ybarra mentioned that he can be making an attempt to assist out staff affected by the huge layoffs at Microsoft’s video games division.
Ybarra joined Blizzard in 2019 as EVP and GM of platform and expertise earlier than being promoted to co-head in August 2021. He was working alongside Jen Oneal, who departed the corporate a couple of months later after it emerged that she was being paid lower than Ybarra regardless of holding the identical place.
“I need to thank everybody who’s impacted at this time for his or her significant contributions to their groups, to Blizzard, and to gamers’ lives,” he wrote.
“It’s an extremely onerous day and my vitality and assist shall be targeted on all these superb people impacted – that is by no means a mirrored image in your superb work.
“To the Blizzard neighborhood: I additionally need to allow you to all know at this time is my final day at Blizzard. Main Blizzard by means of an unbelievable time and being a part of the staff, shaping it for the long run forward, was an absolute honour. Having already spent 20+ years at Microsoft and with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard behind us, it’s time for me to (as soon as once more) turn out to be Blizzard’s greatest fan from the skin.
“To the unbelievable groups at Blizzard – thanks. Phrases can’t categorical how I really feel about all of you. You’re superb. Proceed to do unbelievable issues and all the time preserve Blizzard blue and the participant on the forefront of each determination.
“To all of these impacted at this time – I’m all the time out there to you and perceive how difficult at this time’s information is. My coronary heart is with every one among you.”