As Activision Blizzard continues to struggle under the weight of multiple PR disasters surrounding sexual harassment and union busting, the company has appointed Kristen Hines as its new Diversity, Justice and Inclusion Officer.
“I am pleased to join a company that is prioritizing its commitment to DEI and making progress toward the ambitious goals it has set for itself,” Hines said in a press release.
The company needs all the help it can get from DE&I. Last year, Activision Blizzard acknowledged that its ongoing legal woes have impacted its ability to hire and retain employees, while a breakdown of the company’s representation data revealed that women make up 24 percent of the company. Add to that the high-profile departure of Blizzard co-CEO Jen Oneal after just three months after it was reported she was being offered a lower salary than her male co-lead Mike Ybarra.
Hines, who previously worked for DE&I for information technology company Accenture, will be part of Activision Blizzard’s leadership team. She will also be responsible for helping the company meet its diversity goals and ensuring that “diverse and inclusive perspectives are incorporated into game design, including storylines, character development, gameplay and community interaction.”