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Ubisoft reshuffles management in the face of harassment charges

2020-07-12T20:47:47.014Z


The number two of the group Serge Hascoët, the HR director Cécile Cornet and the leader of the Canadian studios have resigned, while the French publisher of video games is at the heart of a scandal of aggression and harassment.


Exit number two, the HRD and the head of the Canadian unit: the French video game publisher Ubisoft, at the heart of a scandal of aggression and harassment, announced a spectacular reshuffle of its management and promised " major changes in its corporate culture ”.

These departures "follow a rigorous review that the company conducted in response to recent allegations and accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior," said Ubisoft in a statement released overnight Saturday to Sunday.

18,000 employees worldwide

Specifically, number two “Serge Hascoët has chosen to resign from his post of 'Chief creative officer', with immediate effect. This role will be assumed in the interim by Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, "said the company, which announced on June 26 that it would investigate allegations of violence and harassment targeting executives in several countries.

"Ubisoft has not been able to guarantee its employees a safe and inclusive working environment," regretted Mr. Guillemot, quoted in the press release issued early Sunday morning.

Read also: Faced with reports of harassment, Ubisoft promises "profound changes"

"It's not acceptable. All toxic behavior is in total opposition to the values ​​with which I have never compromised and with which I will not compromise, "said the leader.

Mr. Guillemot "will personally oversee a complete overhaul of the collaboration mode of creative teams", promised Ubisoft, which among its successful franchises, includes the series "Assassin's Creed", "Far Cry", "Rayman" or "The Crew "

In this case, “Yannis Mallat, director of the Ubisoft Canadian studios, leaves office and the Company with immediate effect. The recent allegations made in Canada against many employees do not allow him to continue to assume his responsibilities, "detailed the company.

In addition, "Ubisoft will appoint a new human resources manager, to replace Cécile Cornet, who has decided to resign from this position, in the interest of group unity".

The company, which has 18,000 employees worldwide, of which 22% are women, "has also decided to restructure and strengthen the" human resources function and will "have its procedures and policies audited and improved", it insured.

The departures of Mr. Hascoët and Mrs. Cornet had been demanded on Saturday by the trade union section Solidaires Informatique of Ubisoft, in an online leaflet containing testimonies of employees who appeared in particular in the Saturday edition of the French daily Liberation.

By the end of June, such anonymous testimony from Ubisoft employees or ex-employees had appeared on Twitter, targeting executives from studios in Toronto and Montreal, but also in Brazil, Bulgaria and the United States, and concerning sometimes facts dating back several years.

More than ever, I am determined to implement profound changes in order to improve and strengthen our corporate culture.

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft

An ex-employee explained that a colleague had asked her for fellatio during a party while she was still working at her office, others reported that such a creative director of the Montreal studio had "licked the face" of a employee at a company party.

On July 4, Mr. Guillemot announced the resignation of a vice-president and the layoff of another for "inappropriate behavior", after having promised the day before a "structural change" within the company.

"I am more than ever determined to implement profound changes to improve and strengthen our corporate culture," swore the CEO on Sunday.

“I expect all Group managers to support their teams with the utmost respect. I also expect them to set out to lead this necessary change, with the best course of action for Ubisoft and all its employees, ”concluded Mr. Guillemot.

Ubisoft suffered a net loss of 126 million euros during its staggered financial year 2019-2020, due in particular to an impairment of assets in mobile gaming, on a turnover of 1.6 billion euros, in fall of 14% over one year.

The group has displayed its caution for the current year against the background of a health crisis, although an increase in the practice of players has been observed in countries that have confined their populations.

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2020-07-12

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