Activision Blizzard Names Kristen Hines As New Diversity Boss
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Activision Blizzard has announced it has appointed Kristen Hines as its Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Hines will join the company on April 25.
Hines previously served at Accenture as general manager of the global inclusion, diversity and equity practice. With Activision, Hines will work with the leadership team to “implement programs and policies that promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment.” She will report to Julie Hodges, the company’s Chief People Officer.
Hines said in a statement: “I am delighted to join a company that is prioritizing its commitment to DEI and advancing towards the ambitious goals it has set itself. In an industry with historic underrepresentation, I look forward to it to lead the company’s efforts to build a workplace that values transparency, fairness and inclusivity.Gaming has an amazing potential to connect communities around the world and empower heroes of all backgrounds. I look forward to playing a part in expanding the landscape of talent that brings these compelling experiences to a broad base of players.”
Activision last year committed to diversifying its workforce, including by increasing the percentage of female and non-binary employees by 50% over the past five years. Hines will apparently play an important role in achieving that goal.
The company may have difficulty achieving that intended goal, if the current wave of problems is any indication. Activision Blizzard has been under scrutiny for nearly a year after allegations that its corporate culture fosters harassment and inappropriate behavior in the workplace. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing reported several such incidents in its lawsuit last year. Even before that, the company reportedly had trouble acquiring talent — even CEO Bobby Kotick admitted this in an interview with GamesBeat.
According to Activision Blizzard, “Hines will also work with all game teams to ensure diverse and inclusive perspectives are incorporated into game design, including storylines, character development, gameplay and community interaction.”
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This post Activision Blizzard Names Kristen Hines As New Diversity Boss
was original published at “https://venturebeat.com/2022/04/11/activision-blizzard-appoints-kristen-hines-as-new-diversity-boss/”
