Activision Discloses High-Ranking Exec. Resignation Same Day As Infinity Ward Lawsuit

38 former and ex-Infinity Ward employees filed suit against Activision yesterday. There's also one less executive at Activision now, president and CEO of Activision Publishing Mike Griffith, news that the LA Times broke several weeks back, but has now been made official in a disclosure to the SEC.

Griffith oversaw Infinity Ward in his role at Activision Publishing. Is there a connection?

Activision revealed Griffith's resignation in an SEC filing yesterday afternoon. Within the SEC filing itself, Activision did not cite a specific reason for why Griffith was leaving the company.

"Effective on April 23, 2010," reads the filing, "Mr. Griffith resigned from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing. Mr. Griffith will remain Vice-Chairman of Activision Blizzard and will continue to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard [Bobby Kotick]."

Activision has so far not responded to requests for comment.

When the Infinity Ward event first unfolded, I'd published excerpts from an internal memo from Griffith to Activision employees discussing the future rule of Infinity Ward, minus its fired leadership.

"Jason West and Vince Zampella are no longer with Infinity Ward," explained Griffith in the Memo, obtained by G4 in early March. "Infinity Ward remains central to Call of Duty's future and we rely on the combined talent, expertise and leadership of the team there for its success."

Griffith will remain involved with Activision as vice chairman, continuing to participate in board of directors and chairman of the board meetings and "other internal strategy sessions."

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