Five former Ubisoft execs arrested following sexual harassment investigation<p>French police have arrested five former <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/tag/ubisoft/">
Ubisoft[/url] executives after an investigation into claims of abuse, harassment and discrimination at the company, according to the newspaper <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="
https://www-liberation-fr.translate.goog/culture/jeux-video/affaire-ubisoft-cinq-gardes-a-vue-dans-le-cadre-dune-enquete-pour-agressions-et-harcelements-sexuels-20231004_HS6Z3IPLHNGKZEPBZEM3W5WHRU/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp">
Libération[/url]. Ex-Chief Creative Officer Serge Hascoët and Tommy François, a former vice president of editorial and creative services, were among those taken into custody. Both men <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-three-executives-leave-amid-misconduct-claims-164408636.html">
left Ubisoft[/url] in 2020 following accusations <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-sexual-misocnduct-allegations-092903220.html">
against them[/url].</p>
<p>When asked about the arrests, Ubisoft told <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/five-former-ubisoft-executives-arrested-after-sexual-harassment-investigation">
GamesIndustry.biz[/url] that it didn't have "knowledge of what has been shared and therefore can't comment."</p>
<span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>In 2021, a French workers union and two ex-Ubisoft employees <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-harassment-lawsuit-france-205931367.html">
sued the publisher[/url] for allegedly enabling a culture of "institutional sexual harassment." Solidaires Informatiques claimed that, rather than addressing the issues head on, Ubisoft found it easier to tolerate alleged misconduct. Francois and Hascoët were among those named in the suit.</p>
<p>According to
Libération, police spent more than a year investigating the case. They collected testimonies from approximately 50 staffers and former employees. A lawyer for the plaintiffs claimed (according to a translation) that "beyond simple individual behavior, [the case] reveals systemic sexual violence" in an environment where a "'schoolboy atmosphere' was tolerated."</p>
<p>Several senior employees resigned or <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-assassins-creed-valhalla-creative-director-misconduct-151932648.html">
were fired[/url] in 2020 after reports emerged of widespread misconduct at the company, including at Ubisoft studios in <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="
https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2020-07-03/allegations-de-harcelement-chez-ubisoft-un-probleme-aux-ressources-humaines.php">
Montreal[/url] and <a data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" href="
https://chelseamarieohara.com/#/Papers/My-Story-Ubisoft-Toronto">
Toronto[/url]. That summer, CEO Yves Guillemot <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-sexual-harassment-yves-guillemot-013025034.html">
laid out a plan[/url] to address such issues and clean up a culture of toxicity within the ranks.</p>This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/five-former-ubisoft-execs-arrested-following-sexual-harassment-investigation-135636454.html?src=rssSource:
Five former Ubisoft execs arrested following sexual harassment investigation
