Bobby Kotick

Activision boss Bobby Kotick will leave his role as CEO once Microsoft has completed its $70 billion buyout of the Call of Duty company, the Wall Street Journal claims. Sources close to the acquisition plans indicate he will leave the firm after the deal closes, which is expected to take place at some point next year.

Whether Kotick will still be part of the company post the Microsoft purchase has been an important talking point since the announcement was made earlier today, with Kotick himself saying he will "always be available to ensure that we are going to have the very best integration". We know the CEO will stay in his post until the $70 billion deal closes. It's at this point he is then expected to leave.

Bobby Kotick has become an immensely disliked figure since numerous allegations of sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard surfaced. In another Wall Street Journal report, it was claimed the CEO knew of the company's unsavoury work culture for years. Sony's own Jim Ryan responded to the report at the time, explaining how he was "disheartened and frankly stunned to read" the article. While this may not be the kind of exit many had hoped for the controversial figure, he will finally be gone if the report proves to be true.

[source wsj.com]