WotC WotC President Cynthia Williams Resigns

Cynthia Williams, who has been president of Wizards of the Coast for the last two years, will be leaving the company at the end of the month, according to an SEC filing dated April 15th. Hasbro is already looking for somebody to step into the role.

Williams worked for Microsoft on the Gaming Ecosystem Commercial Team before joining WotC two years ago, stepping into the role that then-president Chris Cocks vacated when he was promoted to CEO of Hasbro in February 2022.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On April 15, 2024, Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Gaming, informed the Company of her resignation from the Company effective April 26, 2024. The Company is conducting a process to identify her successor, looking at both internal and external candidates.

According to Rascal News, WotC responded with a comment: "We’re excited for Cynthia to take the next step in her career and grateful for the contributions she has made in her more than two years at Wizards and Hasbro. We wish her the absolute best in her next endeavor. We have started the search for our next President of Wizards of the Coast and hope to have a successor in place soon."

 

[Myrdin Potter]

source?

SEC filings from 2022 when Cocks became CEO. Contracts for Section 16 officers are public. I don’t think William’s is, but I did not search every filing. She was a top 5 earner so she is in the proxy.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I can’t speak to what other people feel. I said that I don’t feel entitled to know.

Okay. Good for you, then.

 

[MNblockhead]

Some people really want need this to be a huge deal,

Mostly click-bait fed YouTube influencers. The rest of us don't profit much from idle gossip.

 

[Zardnaar]

Mostly click-bait fed YouTube influencers. The rest of us don't profit much from idle gossip.

WotC have said this years not gonna be great.

I wouldn't pay to much attention to doomer types until we get several bad years in a row or the VTT tanks or something like that.

Wouldn't pay to much attention to the opposite either the eternally optimistic ones despite contrary evidence.

 

[mamba]

source?

Employment Agreement with Chris Cocks, dated January 5, 2022 | Hasbro Inc. | Business Contracts | Justia

Employment Agreement with Chris Cocks, dated January 5, 2022. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2022, File No. 1-6682.) from Hasbro Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

contracts.justia.com

 

[mamba]

Is there any evidence that they are scrambling?

having two weeks time...

Cocks & Co. likely have a list of people that they'd reach out to for openings. Any leader would. Almost zero leaders would panic in this situation.

there is a difference between scrambling and panicking

 

[FrogReaver]

SEC filings from 2022 when Cocks became CEO. Contracts for Section 16 officers are public. I don’t think William’s is, but I did not search every filing. She was a top 5 earner so she is in the proxy.

Convincing evidence. Thank you!

 

[bedir than]

having two weeks time...


there is a difference between scrambling and panicking

They will almost certainly have an interim named this week. That's not proof of scrambling or of incompetence. That's just a standard succession plan.

 

[michaeljpastor]

My speculation, based on timing:

Chris Cocks/Hasbro/somebody-higher-than will be announcing a direction for Hasbro/WOTC. Ms. Williams was informed of said direction, say three-to-four weeks before the announcement, did not agree with the direction, and in good conscience decided to jump ship sooner-than-later so that a new president could be installed who would steer the ship in that same direction, rather than later mid-turn.

 

[Oofta]

My speculation? It's pretty way out there wacky but here goes. After 2 years, she was fully vested and found another job that she thought was a better fit. Perhaps it was more pay, closer to home, more flexibility, something she would find more challenging or some other reason. So she gave her two week notice like almost every other employee.

Yeah, I know. Crazy talk.