Bobby Kotick

Robert A. Kotick
Born	Template:Birth year and age New York, United States
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, business executive
Years active	1983–2023
Known for	CEO of Activision and Activision Blizzard (1991–2023)
Notable work	Co-founder of Arktronics; orchestrated merger forming Activision Blizzard; founder of Call of Duty Endowment

Robert A. Kotick (born 1963) is an American entrepreneur who held the position of chief executive officer (CEO) at Activision Blizzard and its predecessor, Activision, from 1991 until 2023. He assumed leadership of Activision following a hostile takeover in 1990. Kotick orchestrated the merger between Activision and Vivendi Games in the late 2000s, which resulted in the formation of Activision Blizzard in 2008, where he served as the inaugural CEO. His board memberships included roles at the Coca-Cola Company (2012–2022) and Yahoo (2003–2008). After Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Kotick stepped down on December 29, 2023.

Early life and education

Born in New York in 1963, Kotick demonstrated entrepreneurial skills early on by operating ventures such as renting out clubs in Manhattan during his high school years. He pursued studies in art history at the University of Michigan during the early 1980s but did not complete his degree.

Early career

In 1983, while attending the University of Michigan, Kotick co-founded the software company Arktronics alongside Howard Marks. They developed a graphical user interface-based integrated software suite named Jane for the Apple II. Kotick secured $300,000 in funding from Steve Wynn. Following an encounter with Steve Jobs, he left university to dedicate himself fully to his startup.

In 1987, Kotick made an unsuccessful bid to acquire Commodore International with plans to transform the Amiga 500 into a gaming console but failed to persuade Chairman Irving Gould to sell.

By June 1990, Kotick had become CEO of Leisure Concepts, which managed third-party licensing for Nintendo. Later that year, he sold his holdings and bought a 25% share in the struggling company then known as Mediagenic alongside Brian Kelly. In 1991, he rebranded it as Activision, restructured operations, and shifted focus back to video game creation and marketing. Kotick was officially named CEO in February 1991. Between 1997 and 2003, Activision acquired nine development studios and launched its first major successful title in 1995.

Kotick’s vision was to establish "an institutional quality, well-managed company" that prioritized empowering independent developers. During a 2010 interview, he highlighted the importance of granting studios autonomy over recruitment, product decisions, timelines, and budgets.

He also founded International Consumer Technologies, which became a fully owned subsidiary of Activision by 1995.

Activision Blizzard

In November 2006, Kotick began negotiations with French media giant Vivendi, owner of Blizzard Entertainment and Sierra Entertainment through Vivendi Games. He masterminded the merger that created Activision Blizzard and assumed CEO duties for the new entity in 2008. His strategy involved leveraging Blizzard’s success while pushing for expansion into Asian markets.

Kotick used Activision Blizzard’s industry influence to negotiate favorable terms for its community. In 2009, he threatened to cease game development for the PlayStation 3 if Sony did not lower console prices. He also lobbied the UK government to provide tax incentives for Activision comparable to those offered by Canada, Singapore, and certain eastern bloc nations to sustain investment in British game development.

In 2016, Kotick broadened Activision Blizzard’s presence in mobile gaming through acquiring King, known for Candy Crush Saga. He also purchased professional esports organization Major League Gaming and launched the professional Overwatch League. By mid-2017, Kotick was acknowledged as "the longest-serving head of any publicly traded tech company." Under his guidance, Activision Blizzard earned recognition as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Places to Work” from 2015 through 2018.

In November 2022, the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II set new franchise records by generating over $1 billion in sales within just ten days.

Legal Disputes

In 2007, a flight attendant initiated legal action against Kotick, Andrew Gordon, and their firm Cove Management, accusing a pilot employed by Cove of sexual harassment and alleging wrongful dismissal after reporting the incident. Cove Management denied these accusations but ultimately reached a settlement. Subsequently, Kotick became involved in litigation with the law firm that represented them concerning unpaid legal fees; the court ruled in favor of the law firm.

In July 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) brought a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard alleging workplace misconduct and discrimination; Kotick was not personally named in this suit. By October 2021, Kotick requested his compensation be reduced to the minimum salary permitted under California law, foregoing bonuses and equity awards amid ongoing legal challenges. A November 2021 article in the Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick was aware of prior harassment complaints and had shielded an implicated employee; it also detailed an incident involving a threatening voicemail. Kotick issued an apology and resolved the matter out of court.

Activision Blizzard’s Board commissioned an independent investigation overseen by Gilbert F. Casellas, former chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In June 2022, the Board submitted its findings to the SEC, affirming confidence that Kotick had effectively managed workplace concerns and endorsing his continued leadership. Nonetheless, certain shareholders and employees called for his resignation.

The California lawsuit concluded in December 2023 with Activision Blizzard agreeing to a $54 million settlement, which included allocations for pay equity and promotion fairness. The agreement stated there was no evidence implicating the board, executives, or Kotick in any misconduct.

Corrections and Redactions in Media

Following the settlement, multiple media outlets issued corrections and retractions regarding Activision Blizzard, its board members, and executives. For example, Engadget clarified that the initial CRD lawsuit had alleged sexual harassment by Activision but that these claims were withdrawn in a January amendment.

Microsoft Acquisition and Retirement

In January 2022, Microsoft announced plans to purchase Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, constituting the largest acquisition in video game industry history. The transaction was finalized in 2023. After the acquisition closed, Bobby Kotick remained temporarily to facilitate the transition before retiring on December 29, 2023.

Board Roles

Kotick holds a position as a non-executive director at The Coca-Cola Company and is a member of the boards of the Center for Early Education and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He previously served on Yahoo!’s board from March 2003 until August 2008.

In 2019, Kotick’s total compensation at Activision Blizzard decreased to $30.1 million from $31 million in 2018; notably, 85% of his 2018 earnings were derived from stock options and equity awards. That year, he ranked as the 21st highest-paid CEO in the United States, earning approximately 319 times more than the average employee salary at Activision Blizzard of $97,000. His contract—signed in November 2016 and valid through 2021—included performance bonuses tied to financial goals related to mergers and acquisitions.

In February 2019, the nonprofit organization As You Sow ranked Kotick as the 45th most overcompensated CEO in the U.S. A substantial increase of 180% in Activision Blizzard’s stock price since March 2016 activated a $200 million incentive bonus outlined in his contract; however, this amount was later reduced to $155 million following shareholder objections.

Controversial statements

Certain comments made by Kotick regarding business tactics have sparked unfavorable media scrutiny. He has highlighted the importance of creating intellectual property that can be leveraged over extended durations, favoring sequels rather than investing in new titles without assured continuations.

During the 2009 Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference, Kotick remarked that his objective was to "remove all the enjoyment from making video games," underscoring a commitment to profitability and operational efficiency. Following criticism, he explained that these remarks were directed at investors and had been misunderstood.

Honors and recognition

• Placed 50th on Vanity Fair's 2016 "New Establishment List"
• Positioned 75th in Harvard Business Review's 2016 "Best Performing CEOs in the World"
• Ranked 24th in 2016 and 27th in 2015 on Adweek's "Top 100 Leaders in Media"

Personal life

Originally from Long Island, New York, Kotick currently resides in California with his family. He was married to Nina Spiegel, with whom he shares three daughters: Grace, Emily, and Audrey; the couple divorced in late 2012. Between 2016 and 2019, Kotick was in a relationship with Sheryl Sandberg. His residence in Beverly Hills showcases Abstract Expressionist artwork. Additionally, he has contributed financially to the University of Michigan’s athletic programs.

Kotick identifies politically as a libertarian and made donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee during 2007 and 2008; however, he supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential race.

In 2011, Kotick appeared briefly in the film Moneyball, portraying Oakland Athletics co-owner Stephen Schott.

In 2009, Kotick co-established the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE), a charitable organization dedicated to assisting veterans as they transition to civilian employment by providing funding to relevant groups. As of 2022, he continues to serve on CODE’s board. During the COVID-19 crisis, CODE promoted hiring veteran medical professionals as emergency medical technicians and paramedics.