Game publisher Activision Blizzard just named a new chief financial officer: Microsoft veteran Dennis Durkin, a key executive from the company’s Xbox and video game division.
Durkin has been the chief operating and financial officer in Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, overseeing areas including profit-and-loss, acquisitions, the division’s third-party games business and execution of its business plan.
The appointment was announced by Activision Blizzard in a news release. Activision Blizzard’s Thomas Tippl had been serving as CFO on an interim basis since being promoted to chief operating officer.
Activision Blizzard is known for franchises including “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.:
Microsoft confirmed the news in a statement: “Dennis Durkin, who has served as the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB) Chief Operating and Financial Officer, has accepted a position as the Chief Financial Officer at Activision Blizzard. We thank Dennis for his many contributions and look forward to continuing to work with him as one of our top partners.”
Durkin will be replaced at Microsoft by another veteran of the company’s video-game business, Mitch Koch, currently the corporate vice president for worldwide retail sales and marketing in Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division.
