Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of directors at Skydance, the company newly named as the parent entity following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. This move comes after Kotick stepped down from leading the Call of Duty publisher in the wake of Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Kotick's appointment to the 13-member board, which was detailed in a new SEC filing. Philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs also joins the board, with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed as a board advisor. Skydance CEO David Ellison stated that Kotick brings significant experience in building enduring franchises and connecting with fans, highlighting his record of strategic moves and capital allocation as valuable assets for the merged businesses. Ellison also noted Blair's global perspective and strategic vision.
During Kotick's 32-year leadership, Activision grew into one of the largest publishers in the video game industry, though his tenure was also marked by controversy. Kotick has expressed his belief that selling the company to Microsoft was the correct decision.