Activision Blizzard CEO Criticized Over $200 Million Stock Bonus

Blizzard Posted 2021/03/18 at 5:34 PM by Archimtiros

Shareholder Value Creation Incentiveaverage stock priceclimbed continually over the past five yearsall time highsreported to be in declinelaying off employees amid a pandemicCall of DutyWhile the increase in Activision’s stock price is somewhat commendable, as we stated last year and continue to assert, this achievement alone does not justify such a substantial pay outcome for the CEO. There are many factors that may contribute to a rise in this particular company’s stock price that may not be directly attributable to Robert Kotick’s leadership. The use of video games as one of the few entertainment options available amid the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has been a boon to many companies in the gaming industry irrespective of executive talent or strategic decisions.mission statementBobby Kotick's incentive based salaryEA executive pay

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Comment by MorbidFableI literally don't care how much Bobby makes. He's CEO of ALL Activision, not just blizzard.

This is a stupid battle for the WoW community.Comment by ZibooWho wrote that contract? Geez. Blizz might be making bank for him and shareholders, but the workers and players, not sure they're benefiting much under his leadership.Comment by laboitedechoco200millions..

could have financed large dev teams to improve wow or even create a new game ( a top game is from 100 to 200mil cost - from there you can even earn more dollar...)

but i guess i sound too much socialism. I should be happy to be allowed to play a fcking average extension.

on the other side, well... it is years i'm paying my tokens with IG gold. Not playing other games from this company.Comment by TamuuraMageI hope Bobby loses his job one way or the other.Comment by GomrinFire a few more and it will be 300 million next year.Comment by NymrohdThere is a reason why in some countries CEO pay is decided by an independent remuneration committee and Kotick is probably the poster boy on why there is a need for regulation, not by the government but simply by requirements of multiple interlocking independent systems that keep all STAKEholders happy.Comment by kevincuomoDisgusting actuallyComment by AlicePrimeBlizzard: gives $200 million to Kotick.

Also Blizzard:
- Fires 190 people because they aint got funding.
- Cuts costs on Reforged.
- Cuts costs on Shadowlands features (and features themselves).
- Hires cheaper "specialists" in about every department who produce questionable mechanics / bugged content / absurd lore findings.
- Cancels Heroes of the Storm because go to hell, that's why.

Anyone seeing a major logic hole here?Comment by KilledByVenAcvtision's stock went up DESPITE Kotick, not because of him. That he gets such a huge bonus while others are laid off is indicative of everything that's wrong with this company and the games industry at large.Comment by KilledByVen200millions..

could have financed large dev teams to improve wow or even create a new game ( a top game is from 100 to 200mil cost - from there you can even earn more dollar...)

but i guess i sound too much socialism. I should be happy to be allowed to play a fcking average extension.

on the other side, well... it is years i'm paying my tokens with IG gold. Not playing other games from this company.Comment by Guidanceit's so sad that the company I loved so much has become this ugly thing called Activision, I still hope they release a mmorpg that I like more than World of Warcraft, so I can finally wish the end of Activision Blizzard and the WarcrafComment by XingbgSo, I wanted to add my 2 cents on this debate on cost and pay. The company gave him shares at a value to the company of $0.000001. This did not cost the company anything because the company holds X number of shares in the company, many of which did not cost anything. There is a contract where he gets more of a stake in the company based on the companies performance while he is in control, this is normal in the business world. Now, the value of those shares today might be $200m but he is not able to sell them or cash them out due to regulations.

So, think of it this way. Over the last few years the company has gained over 5 billion in value. Regardless of where the value came from his contract states that if the company does well then he gets a bonus. The value of the shares today is only 4% of the gained value in the last few years. So, is it absolutely terrible for someone to get a 4% bonus for going a good job.

Now, put it back in to an employee perspective. How would you feel if your employer gave you a 4% raise based only on the value you added to the company while you worked there for 5 years. Then said we are going pay this to you in a form of certificate that you can not cash, but hold on to and might be worth more in the future... I am sure most employee would reject this and blame the company for coming up with some creative way to give you a raise without actually paying you anything...

I feel we get caught up in the intrinsic numbers and not percents. Everyone gets paid much different salaries across the country, what is considered fair to one is unfair to another. I say until anyone on this site actually runs ATVI and increases its value by 5 billion, then you really have no idea what it takes or what it is worth, nor do you have any right to judge.

Good job Kotick! Thank you for making ATVI worth more today, thank you for pushing the company to new levels so we can continue to enjoy the games ATVI has created. I look forward to the new games and updates that continue.Comment by ChipsySomeone should Photoshop that dudes' face on Gallywix's body.Comment by VjnzenNot enough. Let's fire some more QA People!Comment by N0083rP00FPeople are not grasping just how much money this is.

It is a quarter BILLION U$
That is A Billion with a fat ass capital B.

Now here is a question and scenario on seeing if this lump of flesh is worth it.
If he disappeared right now, what would happen to the company?
They could replace him with a bag of fertilizer in a suit and have just as good if not a better outcome for the company with a much smaller cash outflow.

An empty seat in an empty office that is empty most of the time anyways.
He is not someone who actually produces something useful or effective outside of laying people off and underpaying what staff there is while dragging the company and its products into the septic tank.Comment by herumorHow is giving a single employee that much of a bonus good for the growth of the company?

You could hire 2,000 new game developers at $100,000/yr salary, or 4,000 new devs at $50,000/yr salary, for that single $200 million bonus. That many new employees would increase the number of games being developed, and bring in exponentially more money to the company as a result.

It feels very wasteful, really.Comment by ZurionMore power to ya Bobby!

Can I have a $ million dollars $?Comment by AnddoLets all quit wow until they start to listen to us ?

I quit my sub and I'm not back if we want to be heard we should cancel it and they will start to work in plyers interestComment by Oixioso whats now? you gonna muzzle us all, wowhead staff?
you are so pathetic, yet you keep calling china and russia dictatorships - look at yourself, you are MUCH worse
anything for a money GodComment by Aurhia
Average salary in US is $87k yearly (unless google is wrong).

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