Paris (AFP)
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot promised his employees on Thursday evening a "structural change" within the company after some of his executives had been targeted by accusations of sexual assault and harassment.
The French publisher of video games, one of the global heavyweights in the sector, announced last week internal investigations, while amassing testimonies on sexism and attacks on women in this very male environment.
An ex-employee explained that a colleague had asked her for fellatio during a party while she was still working at her office, others reported that such a creative director of the Montreal studio had "licked the face" of a employee at a company party.
"The situations that some and some of you have experienced or that you have witnessed are unacceptable," wrote the CEO of Ubisoft to the group's 18,000 employees worldwide, in a message consulted by AFP.
"I want to say to those who have spoken or who have supported colleagues: you are heard and you are helping to drive the necessary changes within the company," he adds, promising "fundamental changes". implemented "very quickly, at all levels".
He announced that he "decided to review the composition of our editorial department, to transform our HR processes (human resources, editor's note), and to make all of our managers more responsible on these subjects".
Contacted by AFP, the press service of Ubisoft was unable to indicate Thursday evening if people had been laid off.
"We are not aiming for marginal adjustments. What we want to implement is a structural change within Ubisoft, fully in line with our values which do not tolerate any toxic behavior and ensure that everyone feels safe to express themselves, "insists the CEO in his message.
He mentions in particular the establishment of "listening groups", an anonymous questionnaire, as well as an online confidential alert platform called Whispli "allowing employees as well as external people to report any harassment, discrimination and other inappropriate behavior ".
© 2020 AFP