OWL Commissioner and Activision Blizzard Esports CEO Pete Vlastelica steps down
Vlastelica first took on the commissioner role last year following the departure of Nate Nanzer
Activision Blizzard CEO of esports and Overwatch League commissioner Pete Vlastelica has stepped down from both positions to move into a new "entrepreneurial" role within the company.
In a statement shared with GamesIndustry.biz today, a spokesperson said the following:
"Pete Vlastelica, CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports and Commissioner of the Overwatch League, will transition from his role in ABE to focus on new entrepreneurial ventures on behalf of Activision Blizzard, following the Overwatch League Grand Finals. He was instrumental in building the company's esports business and driving the industry forward, and we thank Pete for his contributions and impact on our business over the last four years."
It is unclear at the moment who will replace Vlastelica in both his roles.
Vlastelica has been with Activision Blizzard since 2016 in the esports CEO role, and took on the position of Overwatch League commissioner just last year after Nate Nanzer departed for Epic Games.
The Overwatch League, meanwhile, has reportedly been struggling in the past year between COVID-19 lockdowns ending live esports events combined with an exodus of talent going on since late 2019.