Johanna Faries
SVP/General Manager, Call of Duty
Activision Blizzard
A powerhouse business leader, with deep experience across strategic planning, commercial management, operations, and marketing, Johanna Faries serves as Activision Blizzard’s general manager of Call of Duty (COD), one of the biggest gaming and entertainment brands in the world, and the No. 1 selling console gaming franchise in the U.S. for the past 14 years in a row. As general manager, Faries oversees all aspects of the global CDL business, including mainline and live operations, franchise-wide strategy, and commercial development.
Faries joined Activision Blizzard in 2018 as commissioner of Call of Duty esports. Since taking the GM helm in 2020, Faries has maintained COD’s incredible momentum in the marketplace and is focused on shaping a new, long-term vision for the franchise geared toward continued growth and innovation.
While leading Activision Blizzard’s esports leagues division, Faries led the formation and management of the global, city-based CDL, which includes 12 professional teams in major cities across four countries. These professional teams feature many of the world’s best COD players. In its inaugural season, the CDL achieved several major milestones including its Championship Weekend becoming the most-watched esports event in franchise history, even amidst the disruptions presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faries credits her 12 years working as an executive with the NFL for building the foundation needed to help Activision Blizzard reimagine the future of entertainment.
Ultimately, Faries focuses on the work first, aiming to collaborate with, develop and manage top-tier teams, while delivering exceptional business results even when the playbook for success is yet unwritten.
