Today, new Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries sent the following email to all Blizzard employees:

Dear Blizzard colleagues, although my first official day with you will be February 5th, I want to tell you right away that I am honored to join you in this new capacity next week. I join you with a sense of humility and awe of what Blizzard has done for the world over thirty years.

It's also a day with mixed emotions for me, having recently lost talented teammates, but at the same time, I couldn't be more excited to join Blizzard - building on the momentum you've created for Blizzard's next chapter. "

I'd like to thank Matt (Booty) for his introduction, further clarify today's announcement, and share more about how I see our future at Blizzard. I understand this is a lot to take in. The news of my appointment will undoubtedly bring with it a range of reactions, questions and even concerns.

Activision, Blizzard, and King are completely different companies with different games, cultures, and communities. It's worth noting that the way Call of Duty serves players in the morning is often different from Blizzard's amazing games: Each game has a different gameplay experience, the community that surrounds them, and the necessary formula for success. I have discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team, and I come into this position with a sensitivity to these dynamics and a deep respect for Blizzard as we begin our quest to push our universe to greater heights. "

I'm committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, caring and considering you and our games, each of which is unique and special in its own way. I'm optimistic about our ability to serve our current and future player communities and to further expand the shared passion for greatness, excellence, and creative mastery that is the hallmark of Blizzard's approach to game making.

I'll be in Irvine next week and I'm eager to connect with as many of you as possible. I will be scheduling informal (totally optional) meet-and-greets to hopefully hear more voices from across the organization. If you guys can't make it to these gatherings, or aren't in Irvine, please feel free to email me. We also plan to hold a general meeting in the near future.

A little personal about me: My first job is raising my two wonderful sons. In addition to being a parent, I make time every week to do yoga, pray, and of course play video games (I'm a huge Diablo IV fan!). Throughout it all, the joy I find in games and working with the people who make them continues to deepen. I continue to be inspired by Blizzard’s iconic legacy and the transformative role games have played in my life and the lives of others. I can't wait to get to work - listening, learning, empowering, and working with everyone to create our bold and bright future. May we work together to create more legends.