Activision CEO seeks large pay cut, links it to gender-related goals

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, on July 28, 2021. He said that 'every voice matters' and vowed to do a better job in the future. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Activision Blizzard Inc. CEO Bobby Kotick has asked the company's board to reduce his total compensation to $62,500, at a time when the owner of the "Call of Duty" franchise is battling claims over sexual harassment and discrimination at its workplace.

Kotick, who received a total compensation of $154.6 million last year, said in a letter sent to employees on Thursday that he has sought a cut in his compensation until the company's transformational gender-related goals are met.

The video game publisher has also introduced a zero-tolerance harassment policy company-wide along with other changes like increasing the percentage of women and non-binary people in the company by 50% and waiving arbitration of sexual harassment and discrimination claims.

"Any Activision Blizzard employee found through our new investigative processes and resources to have retaliated against anyone for making a compliance complaint will be terminated immediately," Kotick said.

Earlier this month, Activision said it had fired more than 20 employees following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at the workplace, with 20 more individuals facing other forms of disciplinary action.

The company is set to report third-quarter earnings on Tuesday after markets close.

(Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)