HomeBusinessActivision CEO Bobby Kotick...

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick almost got fired over stock deal

Court documents reveal that management at Activision’s former parent Vivendi was on the verge of ousting president and CEO Bobby Kotick over a deal that allowed a group he led to grab up Activision stock when it split from Vivendi. That deal is now the focus of a lawsuit by shareholder Anthony Pacchia against Kotick and others, including both Vivendi and Activision executives. The revelations come as part of a report from Bloomberg that features extensive quotes from internal communications at Activision and Vivendi culled from court documents. “I really wonder who’s going to fire him,” wrote the then-CEO of Vivendi, Jean-Francois Dubos. “Myself, happily. Tomorrow if you want,” came the reply from Philippe Capron — the French company’s CFO and chairman of Activision at the time. According to the Bloomberg report on the documents, Kotick allegedly threatened to quit if his group (which included Chinese game giant Tencent, with which Activision is now partnering for Call of Duty Online) was blocked from buying up the shares in Activision. Capron promised Vivendi management he would help the company smooth over Kotick’s departure in that case. It didn’t happen, and Kotick remains the president and CEO of Activision; Capron no longer works for the company, or for Vivendi. The deal Kotick lead to purchase shares of Activision from Vivendi was worth over $8.2 billion. Kotick and Brian Kelly, now chairman of Activision’s board, personally contributed a combined $100 million towards the transaction. The quotes emerged in court documents in the suit filed by Pacchia, who charges that the group led by Kotick and Kelly was able to unfairly buy up the Activision stock from Vivendi when the two companies parted ways. Pacchia’s suit is consolidated with another suit that alleges wrongdoing on the part of Activision management when it comes to the stock deal. (It’s still not the only one.) The alleged problem? Vivendi and Kotick’s group unfairly benefitted from the sale in ways that general shareholders could not. Vivendi later sold off more Activision shares — but this time, to the public.

Most Popular

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Sony says Destiny 2 has struggled under its ownership

Sony says Destiny 2 has floundered since it acquired franchise custodian...

Roblox Corp sued again over child safety allegations

Content notice for discussion of child sexual abuse.Texas attorney general Ken...

Square Enix cuts jobs across Europe and North America

Final Fantasy maker Square Enix is laying off an undisclosed number...

Becoming One with Nature Takes Time and a Lot of Yoga says Pauline Jacobs

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during...

Read Now

Sony says Destiny 2 has struggled under its ownership

Sony says Destiny 2 has floundered since it acquired franchise custodian Bungie for $3.6 billion in 2022. Appraising the multiplayer series in fiscal report for the second quarter ended September 30, 2025, Sony said Destiny 2 sales and engagement have failed to reach the "expectations we had at...

Roblox Corp sued again over child safety allegations

Content notice for discussion of child sexual abuse.Texas attorney general Ken Paxton is suing Roblox maker Roblox Corp for allegedly platforming pedophiles. The move means the U.S. video game company is being sued by the State of Texas.In a press release published on X, Paxton said Roblox...

Square Enix cuts jobs across Europe and North America

Final Fantasy maker Square Enix is laying off an undisclosed number of employees across North America and Europe in a move it claims will "strengthen" its development structure. The company confirmed the news to IGN, which is reporting that well over 100 people will be impacted by the...

Becoming One with Nature Takes Time and a Lot of Yoga says Pauline Jacobs

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Contributing to a Brighter Future by Volunterring For Environmental Societies

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Letting Loose and Having Fun in the Rural Villages Along the Seine in France

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Exploring the Coral Reefs to Understand How Pollution Has Impacted Aquatic Life

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Cultivating an Entire Garden Over the Course of a Year and Growing it to Maturity

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Hitchhiking from one Side of the Country to the Other while on a Tight Schedule

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

What Happens when you Lose Yourself in an Unknown, Foreign Country? Advice and Tips

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

Take a Deep Dive into the Alternate Lifestyle of Paris, France, with Kelly Laurence

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...

A Photo Book with Andreea Martini Following her Trip from one Side of the US to the Other

The increase in overall pollution that the planet has seen during the past few years has impacted the planet in such a way that it caused a ripple effect to happen in various domains. This is exactly why right now is the moment in which all of...