Doornink becomes chairman as Activision Publishing hires new CEO

Santa Monica based publisher Activision has announced a pair of new appointments at the top of its publishing division, with Michel Griffith being hired as president and CEO while former incumbent Ron Doornink is named as chairman.

Griffith joins the company from Procter and Gamble, where he worked for 24 years - most recently as president of the firm's 3800 headcount Global Beverage Division, where he improved both market share and operating margins.

As president and CEO of Activision Publishing, he'll be responsible for the entirety of the company's operational management - including the studio, publishing and corporate activities of the firm.

He replaces Ron Doornink, a former Procter and Gamble colleague who has been CEO of Activision Publishing since March 2002, and now moves over to become chairman of the division - a role in which he will continue to direct the planning of Activision's growth, according to the company.

Doornink welcomed Griffith's appointment to the company, commenting that "having worked with Mike for over a decade at Procter and Gamble, I have witnessed his skill in building businesses and leading high-performing teams. His addition to Activision's senior management team directly reflects the company's commitment to future growth and enhancing shareholder value."

"Since 1991, Activision has grown into a $1.4 billion company with record earnings," commented Activision Inc. CEO Robert Kotick. ""As we further expand into new geographies and product categories and capitalise on the numerous opportunities provided by the introduction of new platforms and distribution avenues, Mike's track record of building global brands, managing large and complex organizations and successfully improving operating performance during his various assignments at Procter and Gamble will help us to achieve our ambitious plans."