Ubisoft will reform top editorial department following allegations

Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot has detailed a set of changes to its internal processes and top editorial board, following numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault concerning employees across the company over the past few weeks.

The company's leading editorial group, whose makeup has previously sparked controversy for its lack of diverse voices and ability to handle the issues its games flirt with, has already seen top members Maxime Béland and Tommy Francois suspended while Ubisoft investigates allegations made against them further.

"The situations that some of you have experienced or witnessed are absolutely not acceptable," Guillemot said in an internal memo titled Change Starts Today. "No one should ever feel harassed or disrespected at work, and the types of inappropriate behavior we have recently learned about cannot and will not be tolerated. To those of you who have spoken up or have supported colleagues, I want to be clear: you are heard, and you are helping drive necessary change within the company.

"We have significant work to do to improve the ways in which we operate and collaborate, and I am personally committed to ensuring we make these fundamental changes. They need to be profound, and we need to implement them quickly at all levels of the organisation.

"Specifically, I have decided to revise the composition of the Editorial Department, transform our human resource processes, and improve the accountability of all managers on these subjects."

Guillemot has appointed a new head of workplace culture "empowered to examine all aspects of our company's culture and suggest comprehensive changes". Formal employee listening sessions will begin next week, moderated by external facilitators. An external consulting firm will also audit the company's procedures and policies, and a further position will be created - Head of Diversity and Inclusion - to improve diversity across the organisation.

As for those employees currently suspended, Guillemot concluded, investigations into their behaviour are still continuing.