Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Mentioned in this article
- Kim Phan, global esports director for Blizzard, has left the company effective June 14.
- Phan will pursue a “new endeavor” within the gaming industry, she wrote in a post on the TeamLiquid.net forums.
- The departure occurs less than a month after Overwatch League (OWL) Commissioner Nate Nanzer left for a job at Epic Games.
Blizzard Global Esports Director Kim Phan has resigned from the company, according to a forum post she wrote on TeamLiquid.net. The post, called “Thank You, Blizzard Community,” informed readers that her last day was June 14 and that she would be pursuing a “new endeavor” within the gaming industry.
“As I hang up my sword and shield, I look forward to a bright future and wish all my Blizzard friends and family the very best,” said Phan, who worked at Blizzard Entertainment for over 13 years.
Phan is the second high-profile staff member at Blizzard to exit the company within the last month. On May 25, Overwatch League 
(OWL) Commissioner Nate Nanzer announced his resignation. A week later, Nanzer started a new position with Epic Games , ESPN confirmed, where he oversees competitive esports initiatives for Fortnite .
Related Article: Activision Blizzard Exceeds Q1 Earnings Outlook Citing Esports, Core Franchises
Phan’s departure was predicted on June 1 by an anonymous internal source who provided a list of “several” high-level resignations to Dexerto. Phan’s name was the only one revealed in the article.
Sources told Dextero that low morale, particularly around Activision Blizzard esports, is to blame. Late last year, the company canceled its Heroes of the Storm Pro League. In February, Activision Blizzard laid off 8% of its workforce despite 2018 being a record high yeah for net revenue.
Activision Blizzard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
