Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot Summoned to French Court Over Workplace Harassment

Seeking Justice: Ubisoft's Leadership Under Scrutiny

Legal Ramifications for Former Ubisoft Executives

In a recent verdict that reverberated through the gaming industry, a French court convicted three ex-Ubisoft executives for their involvement in workplace harassment. These individuals, Serge Hascoët, Tommy François, and Guillaume Patrux, received financial penalties and suspended prison sentences, ranging from twelve months to three years. Their convictions stemmed from severe accusations including sexual misconduct, bullying, and institutionalized racism. All three had either resigned or were terminated from Ubisoft in 2020 following internal and public reports of their behavior.

CEO Summoned to Court Amidst Harassment Allegations

The legal scrutiny intensified for Ubisoft when the trade union Solidaires Informatique, alongside four other plaintiffs from the initial trial, issued a summons for CEO Yves Guillemot to appear before the Bobigny District Court on October 1. This new development, widely reported by French media outlets, directly links Guillemot to the broader case of workplace misconduct that led to the earlier convictions of his former colleagues.

Ubisoft's Official Response to the Summons

Ubisoft has officially acknowledged receipt of the summons, confirming that the court appearance is being sought by the same parties and is based on the identical factual allegations that were central to the June trial. The company highlighted that, following an extensive investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office, it was previously determined there were insufficient grounds to pursue criminal charges against Ubisoft as an entity or its current leadership. Ubisoft has committed to ongoing cooperation with the judicial process, reaffirming its dedication to resolving the matter transparently.

Details of Convictions Against Former High-Ranking Officials

Serge Hascoët, who served as Ubisoft's chief creative officer, received an 18-month suspended sentence and a €40,000 fine for psychological harassment and complicity in sexual harassment. Evidence presented in court and an internal investigation revealed that employees under his supervision endured racial slurs and Islamophobic pranks. Tommy François, the former vice president of editorial and creative services, faced a more severe three-year suspended sentence and a €30,000 fine for sexual misconduct and attempted sexual assault, including an incident where he allegedly tried to forcibly kiss an employee. Guillaume Patrux, a former game director, was given a 12-month suspended term and a €10,000 fine for bullying, described as "smaller scale" but "particularly intense."

Prior Denials and Company Commitments

Earlier reports in May suggested that both Guillemot and Ubisoft's human resources director, Marie Derain, would be called to testify in the original trial. However, Ubisoft promptly refuted these claims, asserting that neither the company nor its senior leadership were direct parties to those proceedings. In light of the ongoing legal challenges, Cecile Russeil, Ubisoft's executive vice president, reiterated the company's unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its workforce, emphasizing a strict "zero tolerance" policy against any form of sexual or moral harassment, sexist behavior, assault, insult, or discrimination.