After over 13 years at Blizzard, Kim Phan has departed the corporate.
That is in accordance with a put up on the boards of pro-gaming staff Staff Liquid, wherein the previous world director of esports wrote that her final day was Friday, June 14th and that she has one other enterprise within the video games business lined up.
Phan joined Blizzard in 2006 as affiliate producer for on-line applied sciences, working in that division till August 2011 in varied roles till she moved to Blizzard’s enterprise intelligence and threat arm. In June 2013, she was moved to the corporate’s world esports division, first as a senior supervisor, then a worldwide product director as of August 2016.
Earlier than being employed by Blizzard – as Phan says in her leaving put up – she has been part of the pro-games neighborhood since 2004.
“I didn’t realize it on the time, but it surely was the fervour I invested into these early initiatives that opened the doorways to a 13-plus yr profession for me at Blizzard,” she wrote.
“My first function was in growth as a producer in on-line applied sciences (assume Battle.web and recreation web sites). I then went on to enterprise intelligence to work on safety, hacks, and anti-cheat, earlier than ultimately taking a seat on the desk on Blizzard Esports. What an entire honour and privilege it has been to serve this wonderful neighborhood. I’ll all the time keep in mind the moments we created collectively, the blood, sweat, and tears all of us poured in, and the late evening hours we spent cheering on our favorite groups and gamers.
“I’ve watched this business develop by the assist we’ve given each other: the strides we made after we lifted one another up reasonably than pulling one another down. I’ve loved following the conversations in these boards, and in so many different venues the place we now have gathered each on-line and in particular person. I’m a greater particular person for having been part of this wonderful neighborhood, and can ceaselessly be thankful for it.
“Going ahead, I can be pursuing a brand new endeavour throughout the gaming business. My final day with Blizzard was Friday, June 14th. As I dangle up my sword and protect, I look ahead to a shiny future and need all my Blizzard family and friends the easiest.”
Phan stepping away from Blizzard comes lower than a month after Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer leaving the corporate for Fortnite maker Epic Video games. Esports plans for Blizzard’s Heroes of the Storm MOBA had been additionally scrapped in December 2018 amid rumours that the corporate was tightening the purse strings with Activision taking extra of a number one function.
That was earlier than eight per cent – or round 800 – jobs had been lower at Activision Blizzard, together with 209 from Blizzard’s US enterprise.