Blizzard HR executive leaves company amid harassment lawsuit

Activision Blizzard’s SVP of global HR Jesse Meschuk reportedly left the company earlier this week.

Meschuk’s departure was reported by Bloomberg and follows criticism of the firm’s HR department as part of a lawsuit alleging harassment and sexual discrimination at Activision Blizzard. Part of the case claims that the company’s HR department failed to protect its employees and address concerns raised.

A new report from Axios contains several testimonies from former and current Blizzard staff, and details inappropriate and unsatisfactory action from the HR department in response to complaints.

One employee shares her experience of an “untouchable” colleague she raised several complaints against, to be told by a HR representative, “It’s not harassment. He didn’t touch you.”

The same employee also shares that a HR rep said she was “acting like a brat” and was told to “suck it up” in response to a complaint.

Another former staff member said that reporting issues has “a surprising lack of paper trail”, and, “you’re just sort of saying these things out into the void.”

Speaking to Axios, Activision said, “We will not tolerate anyone found to have impeded the integrity of our processes for evaluating claims and imposing appropriate consequences. If employees have any concerns about how Human Resources handled claims, we have other reporting options, including anonymous ones.”

Activision is now facing a second lawsuit, this time from its investors. The filing alleges that the firm misled investors by not disclosing issues at the company, or informing them about the DFEH investigation that had gone on for two years.

Yesterday, Activision announced that Blizzard president J. Allen Brack is leaving the company to “pursue new opportunities.” Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra have been appointed co-leaders of the company, effective immediately.