Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime steps down as company president

Mike Morhaime is stepping down as president of Blizzard Entertainment. He will be succeeded by World of Warcraft executive producer J. Allen Brack in the leadership role. Morhaime will remain a strategic advisor to the company, while fellow co-founder Allen Adham and development chief Ray Gresko will become part of the executive leadership team.

“After many years of working with some of the industry’s most talented people to create games and worlds for you to play in,” Morhaime says, “I’ve decided it’s time for someone else to lead Blizzard Entertainment. I will now serve as an advisor to the company I so love and admire. My duties as president of Blizzard will be assumed by my friend, colleague, trusted advisor, and longtime steward of World of Warcraft, J. Allen Brack.”

In the full statement, Brack adds “One thing that won’t change going forward – our deeply held commitments that are core to who we are as a company: to gameplay first, to quality in everything we do, and to listening to and partnering with our community.”

Morhaime has been with Blizzard for 27 years, overseeing the company through all its history, whether that be RPM Racing, Warcraft, WoW, or Overwatch. He historically led the opening ceremonies at the annual fan gathering, which means we’re about to see the end of an era with BlizzCon 2018 next month.

Brack has been with Blizzard for 12 years, and his time in the industry – from Origin System to Sony Online Entertainment – doubles that. He has most recently served as executive producer and senior vice president on World of Warcraft.