Activision Blizzard CEO and alleged harasser Bobby Kotick could receive millions in bonuses and parachute payments as a result of the seismic Microsoft deal.
Microsoft agreed to purchase Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion earlier this year, but the deal was struck as the Call of Duty publisher grappled with widespread misconduct allegations, some of which were levelled at Kotick himself.
A number of Activision Blizzard employees called for Kotick to resign in the wake of those allegations, and although it’s been reported the long-serving chief exec may step down once the Activision Blizzard purchase has wrapped up, it seems he could still net millions before departing.
According to a recent SEC filing (spotted by Axios), Kotick will be handed a $15 million “golden parachute” payment if Microsoft fires him without “cause” or he chooses to depart for “good reason.”
Kotick could also receive up to $22 million in stock if Activision Blizzard makes “appropriate progress” to transforming its workplace culture by achieving gender-related goals and making good on other promises — such as launching a zero-tolerance harassment policy — no earlier than six months after the date of the merger agreement.
The news comes as workers across Activision Blizzard continue to push for workplace reforms, including staff at Raven Software who are currently attempting to unionize despite what they describe as attempts to “thwart” their efforts.