French publisher Ubisoft is cleaning house in the wake of an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by some of its employees.
In a press release issued on Sunday, July 12th, the company said that its chief creative officer Serge Hascoët would be resigning effective immediately, with CEO Yves Guillemot (pictured) taking over this role until a replacement is found.
Meanwhile, the MD of Ubisoft's Canadian studios Yannis Mallat is also leaving, with the firm saying that it would be "impossible for him to continue in this position" after the number of allegations made against other staff.
Chief talent and communications officer Cécile Cornet is also stepping down and is to be replaced by a new global head of HR who will be appointed.
“Ubisoft has fallen short in its obligation to guarantee a safe and inclusive workplace environment for its employees. This is unacceptable, as toxic behaviours are in direct contrast to values on which I have never compromised — and never will. I am committed to implementing profound changes across the Company to improve and strengthen our workplace culture,” Guillemot said.
“Moving forward, as we collectively embark on a path leading to a better Ubisoft, it is my expectation that leaders across the Company manage their teams with the utmost respect. I also expect them to work to drive the change we need, always thinking of what is best for Ubisoft and all its employees.”
This follows a wave of allegations of sexual harassment, assault and other misconduct perpetrated by Ubisoft staff. The French publisher said it would be investigating the accusations levelled against its employees, with Guillemot vowing to "personally follow" each incident.
A number of staff have been put on administrative leave, including its VP of creative services, Tommy François. The VP of Ubisoft's editorial team, Maxime Béland, has also resigned following allegations made against him.
Guillemot has laid out how the company is going to change following these incidents moving forward. The Ubisoft boss has admitted that significant work needs to be done and that it was going to be altering its HR processes and making managers more accountable for the well being of their employees.
