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Bobby Kotick Looks to Lead TikTok Consortium
Bobby Kotick, the previous CEO of Activision Blizzard, whose departure was met with public criticism from employees, is reportedly seeking a new opportunity to lead. Reports indicate that Kotick has set his sights on TikTok as the next company he desires to oversee.
Consortium Formation
According to The Wall Street Journal, Kotick has been in discussions with potential investors to create a consortium to acquire TikTok from its parent company ByteDance. He has approached notable figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to join this endeavor.
Kotick has proposed that OpenAI could utilize TikTok as a platform to train its artificial intelligence models in the event of a successful acquisition. Responses from OpenAI and Kotick regarding these discussions are pending.
Future of TikTok
Recent developments have put TikTok’s fate in question, with lawmakers considering a ban on the app or potentially forcing its sale to disassociate from its Chinese roots. President Joe Biden has voiced support for such measures amid concerns of national security threats posed by Chinese-owned tech companies.
Despite assurances from TikTok that user data is not shared with the Chinese government, apprehensions persist regarding potential influence over American citizens. Kotick’s involvement in a potential deal for TikTok raises eyebrows due to his controversial tenure at Activision Blizzard.
Controversial Past
In 2021, Activision Blizzard faced a cascade of allegations involving harassment, sexual misconduct, and unequal pay under Kotick’s leadership. The company settled with the California Civil Rights Department in 2023 following a lawsuit over discriminatory employment practices, costing them $54 million.
Kotick parted ways with Activision Blizzard in 2023 after decades with the company, receiving a substantial exit package. Former employees criticized his decisions, attributing negative repercussions to his leadership style.
As Kotick seeks to pivot to TikTok, his history at Activision Blizzard raises questions about his suitability for leading a company amidst such tumultuous circumstances.
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