Ubisoft have announced they have hired Uber’s former D&I head as their VP of global diversity and inclusion.
As we previously reported, Ubisoft employees claimed numerous sexual misconduct allegations [1, 2]. Multiple Ubisoft executives stood down during internal investigations, or were later fired [1, 2] or placed on administrative leave. Anonymous sources also spoke to other outlets, describing the working atmosphere blurred the line between work and leisure, which allegedly lead to predatory behavior.
Along with allegations of sexual harassment (beginning with accusations of then Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Creative Director Ashraf Ismail having extra-marital affairs), several high-level individuals were accused of racist or homophobic comments, as well as close friends of executives being promoted over women.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot later stated changes to introduce safeguards, and improve diversity and inclusivity at the company; along with the company’s support of Black Lives Matter.
Now, GamesIndustry.biz reports that they have hired former Uber Diversity & Inclusion head Raashi Sikka as the company’s newly created vice president of global diversity and inclusion. Sikka had also previously been the head of Diversity & Inclusion for EMEA (also a senior program manager for EMEA recruiting), APAC, Uber Eats, and Uber (where she began as their New Delhi marketing manager).
Her role involves “an explicit and broad mandate to lead and implement changes that touch on key areas of Ubisoft’s operations and its business.” This will involve designing and implementing programs that promote diversity and equity within the company, and across its various offices around the world.
The decision was undoubtedly in response to the aforementioned allegations. Sikka spoke more about her role at Ubisoft.
“A primary focus coming in will be to carefully listen to all voices that want to participate in improving Ubisoft’s values and culture, and I will count on the support of every Ubisoft team member to move the company forward.
Video games have the power to promote the values of diversity and inclusion. I hope my work will help reinforce this and ensure the content created at Ubisoft is reflective of the different backgrounds, cultures, identities and stories the teams bring to work each day.”
Sikka will begin her work on February 1st, reporting directly to Guillemot.
Image: Twitter
