Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot today announced in an email to employees that the game publisher will review the composition of its currently white male editorial department that oversees creative decisions in all of its global studios. He also outlined other measures to try to address a recent wave of harassment and misconduct allegations in the company’s studies.
“The situations that some of you have experienced or witnessed are not absolutely acceptable,” Guillemot wrote. “No one should feel harassed or disrespected at work, and the kinds of inappropriate behavior we have recently learned cannot and will not be tolerated.”
“Specifically,” he continued, “I have decided to review the composition of the Editorial Department, transform our human resources processes, and improve the responsibility of all managers on these issues.” Ubisoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what that review entails.
The change to the Editorial group will have an impact on the highest level of creative leadership in the company. It will also belatedly address concerns voiced by the company’s own employees that the group’s makeup was a sign of how out of tune Ubisoft has been with the times.
In January, Ubisoft announced a reconfiguration of this powerful Editorial group, which has led the direction of the company’s large franchises for years. At the time, seven people were named to the group, including some who were already in the position. They were all white men. On the company’s internal message board, where Ubisoft workers post with their real names, employees were enraged by the group’s long lack of diversity.
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In an internal message to company four Days later, Serge Hascoët, Creative Director at Ubisoft and the man responsible for choosing the team, tried to apologize. “We have heard these comments and agree that we can and should do better when it comes to diversifying the Editorial Team and our development teams at Ubisoft in general … The entire Editorial Team, including myself, is well aware of this need. And he’s making it a priority. “To that end, Hascoët said the Editorial Team will engage with mentors and encouraged” a diverse group of internal applicants. “
Two of the current members of the editorial group, Maxime Béland and Tommy Francois, are currently suspended pending the outcome of an external investigation into allegations of misconduct, according to a report by Bloomberg. Yesterday, the French newspaper Release detailed allegations published of sexual harassment and misconduct by Tommy François. He replied to the newspaper through his lawyer, saying that the alleged victims should contact the judicial authorities. “Such complaints would have the advantage of allowing the authorities to ensure the authenticity of these allegations and allowing us to respond and demonstrate their falsity,” said the lawyer, based on a translation of his comments by Kotaku. the Release He also reported that of all the editorial vice presidents, Hascoët is the closest to François and treats him as his right hand man.
In addition to an apparent change in the editorial group, Guillemot also announced the creation of two new positions to specifically address toxicity issues in the workplace. The first is a head of workplace culture, to be filled by Lindwine Sauer, currently the Project Manager at the company’s Strategic Innovation Lab. The second is a head of diversity and inclusion. No one was named to that position, but Guillemot said they will report directly to him. Additionally, the email says the company will hold a series of discussions with employees next week about their concerns and how to create a safer workplace.
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