The fallout of gaming's #MeToo moment continues with the resignation of Maxime Béland, Vice President of Ubisoft's Editorial team. Béland, along with fellow executive Tommy François, is at the center of sexual assault allegations that go to the very heights of Ubisoft's administration.
"Maxime Béland, Vice President Editorial, has resigned from his role at Ubisoft, effective immediately," wrote Ubisoft in a statement made to Polygon. "Despite his resignation, we continue to investigate the allegations made against him."
Additionally, Tommy François' administrative leave has been upgraded to disciplinary leave, meaning that Ubisoft's investigation into the allegations against him have found at least enough evidence to warrant consequences, if not outright firing. Someone else at Ubisoft's Toronto office has also been terminated for "engaging in behaviors that do not align with what is expected of Ubisoft employees."
Kotaku first reported the specifics of the incident which led to Béland's resignation. During Far Cry 4's launch party back in 2014, he placed his hands around the neck of a female employee and squeezed in a "creepy demonstration." Worse still, the incident wasn't investigated due to Béland's wife, Rima Brek, being the head of HR at the time. It’s alleged that she stifled the employee which raised the issue.
It's mot just Ubisoft executives that are facing allegations of misconduct. Assassin's Creed community manager Andrien Gbinigie has also been accused of harassment, and former Assassin's Creed Valhalla Creative Director Ashraf Ismail was accused of cheating on his wife and lying to the women he was having affairs with about his marital status. He's since stepped down from his position.
Ubisoft appears to be cleaning house after allegations surfaced over the last few weeks that it has fostered a workplace culture that protects men and marginalizes women. CEO Yves Guillemot has proposed sweeping changes at Ubisoft in an internal memo titled "Change Starts Today," including the hiring of a Head of Workplace Culture and a Head of Diversity and Inclusion to example all aspects of Ubisoft's work culture.
In addition, Ubisoft has hired an outside consulting firm to review all HR practices and procedures and an outside legal firm to investigate all reports of misconduct.