Activision Blizzard’s chief compliance officer Fran Townsend steps down

The chief compliance officer of the Bloomberg Activision Blizzard Inc., who was under scrutiny over her response to sexual assault allegations last year, is stepping down as the video game publisher seeks to close its sale to Microsoft Corp.

Frances Townsend, who is also serving as executive vice president of corporate affairs, leaves her position two years later. She will be an adviser to the board and Chief Executive Officer, Bobby Kotick, after Friday.

In an email shared with Bloomberg News, Kotick wrote that Fran did a truly exceptional job - actually four jobs - with constantly increasing responsibilities and the most exemplary work ethic. Fran has done an outstanding job in enhancing the governance and compliance programs we have throughout the Company. Jen Brewer, the senior vice president of ethics and compliance, and Luci Altman, the senior vice president of corporate governance, will fill Townsend s role. Brewer has been with the company for over a decade. The Wall Street Journal reported the move earlier Friday.

Townsend previously held positions as a counter-terrorism adviser to President George W. Bush's White House and a general council for MacAndrews Forbes. Townsend said she would concentrate on customer safety and the security of their personally identifying information after taking over the job at Activision. She said that she will look into loot boxes, a mechanic for obtaining in-game cosmetics that are sometimes likened to gambling.

In July 2021, shortly after a California state agency complaint about alleged endemic sexism at Activision Blizzard, Townsend s response to the claims was roundly criticized. She described them in an internal letter as factually incorrect, old, and out of context. Over 2,000 current and former employees of the company signed a letter calling Activision Blizzard leaders abhorrent and insulting. Kotick took responsibility for the incident, saying Townsend shouldn't be blamed. The company has since moved to a more conciliatory tone, but she later stepped down from her role as the women's network sponsor at Activision Blizzard King.

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