Hasbro, the owner of the highly popular tabletop RPG game Dungeons & Dragons, has appointed the former general manager of Blizzard's World of Warcraft, John Hight, to be the new president of Wizards of the Coast.
Hight was also the former Blizzard SVP and he will be joined by former Bungie COO Holly Barbacovi in Hasbro's latest management update. The latter will be taking on the role of chief people officer.
Hasbro's New Leadership
In his new role as president of Wizards of the Coast, Hight will be responsible for overseeing Hasbro's "network of gaming studios and digital licensing agreements."
He will also be in charge of its Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering franchises, according to GamesIndistry.
On the other hand, Barbacovi, who was Wizards of the Coast's VP of HR from 2016 to 2020, will be back with Hasbro to lead its human resources portfolio.
She will be in charge of overseeing a people and culture strategy that is grounded in the company's values around play to attract and retain top talent.
Hasbro's MD, Chris Cocks, said that he was excited to welcome Barbacovi back to the company. He noted that those who worked with her before will remember her curiosity and courageous leadership.
Hight's appointment as Wizards of the Coast president comes after he spent more than a decade at Blizzard.
He was previously responsible for overseeing all development and commercial activities on key titles, including World of Warcraft Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble, said GameDeveloper.
A Strategic Hiring Decision
Hasbro described the former Blizzard SVP as an "industry titan" and explained what he will be responsible for in his new role. Cocks also highlighted Hights' passion for community-centric gaming.
The strategic hires apparently reflect Hasbro's mission to connect different generations of video game fans through storytelling and play.
The company was recognized for its corporate citizenship and it continues to deliver a wide array of play experiences through its diverse portfolio.
The latest news also comes as Hasbro previously experienced a series of notable developments.
The results of its Q1 2024 showed a 24% decline in revenue, which came despite improvements in operational efficiency and a successful shift towards digital gaming, according to Investing.
