Activision Blizzard has announced Johanna Faries will take up the newly created position of Head of Leagues. 

As reported by Kevin Hitt for Esports Observer, Faries, who is currently commissioner of the Call of Duty League, is expected to take up her new role leading both the CDL and Overwatch League, on 12 October. 

The news follows the departure of former Overwatch League Commissioner Pete Vlastelica – who has moved on to other “entrepreneurial ventures” with Activision Blizzard. Vlastelica had replaced Overwatch League’s first commissioner, Nate Nanzer, who resigned and took on the role of Head of Competitive at Fortnite with Epic Games. 

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic throwing plans for live events into disarray, Faries has helped ensure Call of Duty League remains popular and vibrant, with the championship pulling in over 206K viewers. 

Even so, with the virus crisis showing no signs of abating, Faries will have her work cut out for her as she strives to keep both leagues healthy and popular in an online-only format, and attempts to address problems that have surfaced during online competitions – like latency and disconnection issues. 

Before joining Activision Blizzard in July 2019, Faries, a Harvard University graduate, spent 11 years with the NFL, eventually becoming Vice President of Club Business Development. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Faries has more than proven she’s up to the job, in the most challenging circumstances anyone could have imagined, so we’re sure both CDL and OWL will be in safe hands and continue to thrive, whatever mother nature throws at the world over the coming year. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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