Key Takeaways:
– John Hight is named the new president of Wizards of the Coast (WoTC), a Hasbro subsidiary.
– Hight is a former executive of Blizzard Entertainment where he spent over 12 years.
– He will oversee Hasbro’s digital gaming business, comprising 42% of Hasbro’s Q1 revenue.
– Former WoTC CEO, Cynthia Williams, stepped down in April and is now CEO at Funko.
– Hasbro also announced former Bungie leader Holly Barbacovi as its new chief people officer.
A New Era for Wizards of the Coast
After over 12 years of successful tenure at Blizzard Entertainment, John Hight has announced his move to Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary under toy and gaming giant Hasbro. Hight will serve a prominent role as the company’s new president. Prior to this, he gained vast experience serving roles as VP and executive producer for World of Warcraft (WoW), and as a general manager of the Warcraft franchise.
Leadership Roles and Transition
In his new role, Hight will be tasked with steering Hasbro’s digital gaming business. Looking at Hasbro’s impressive Q1 figures, the digital gaming segment stood out, accounting for a hefty 42% of the company’s revenue. This move comes after the former WoTC CEO, Cynthia Williams, resigned from her position in April. Williams later found a new role in May as CEO at popular toy manufacturer, Funko.
Hight Bids California Goodbye
According to a company representative, the new WoTC president will be relocating to the Seattle region from California. His new place of work, WoTC, is known for its signature gaming creations: Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. The company has its headquarters in Renton, Washington.
Bungie Leader Joins Hasbro Family
In another significant announcement, Hasbro stated that it had recruited Holly Barbacovi, the former leader of Bungie, as the organization’s new chief people officer. Barbacovi comes with an impressive track record, holding the position of vice president of human resources at WoTC from 2016 to 2020. More recently, she acted as the COO and chief people officer at Bungie, and in her early career, she served 16 years at Microsoft.
Implications for Hasbro’s Future
The appointment of both Hight and Barbacovi will play an essential role in shaping Hasbro’s future. Hight’s expertise in the gaming industry combined with Barbacovi’s people-centric focus is expected to drive a new era of growth for the company. As Hight takes the helm, fans and industry observers will be keen to see how he applies his WoW influence in enriching and expanding WoTC’s popular offerings.
Hight’s appointment and the expected impact on Hasbro’s digital gaming business underline the growing significance of this sector to the company’s overall strategy and financial health. His leadership, coupled with Barbacovi’s strategic people management skills, could result in a compelling combination for Hasbro’s forthcoming chapter.
In conclusion, Hasbro has stacked its roster with formidable talent to take on a future where digital gaming continues to play a greater role in its business framework. The addition of experienced veterans like Hight and Barbacovi underlines the company’s commitment to capitalizing on this swiftly growing market. While remaining true to its tradition of legendary table-top games, WoTC is gearing up to accommodate newer, more digital-oriented shifts in the gaming industry. As we look to the future, we anticipate a transformative era for Hasbro and WoT with fresh leadership at the helm.
