Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent Cleared of Misconduct Allegations, Says Committee Report
A special committee of Riot Games’ board of directors has concluded its investigation into allegations of misconduct against the company’s CEO, Nicolo Laurent. In an open letter, the committee recommended that Laurent should not face dismissal or any form of punishment. The committee stated that they found no evidence to support the allegations made against Laurent.
Background of the Allegations
Former executive assistant Sharon O’Donnell sued both Laurent and Riot Games in January, accusing Laurent of gender discrimination, making sexist comments, and inappropriate offers of personal trips. O’Donnell claimed that she was wrongfully terminated after reporting Laurent’s behavior to human resources. Riot Games denied the allegations and initiated an investigation into Laurent following the lawsuit.
Committee Investigation and Findings
The committee’s report concluded that in cases involving high-ranking executives, power dynamics can often lead to toxic behaviors within the organization. However, in this particular case, the committee found no evidence to justify any form of sanction against Laurent. They emphasized that their recommendation was not made lightly, as they recognized the complexities involved in such cases.
Riot Games’ Legal Filings and Allegations
Riot Games has made legal filings in response to O’Donnell’s civil lawsuit. The company has denied the allegations and filed documents in court, accusing O’Donnell or others on her behalf of tampering with witnesses for the case. Riot Games aims to move the case into arbitration based on an agreement O’Donnell had signed with the company in 2017. Riot also included two anonymous reports of harassment by O’Donnell toward others in their filings. These reports were anonymized to protect the individuals involved.
Laurent’s Statement and Ongoing Controversies
Following the committee’s conclusion, Laurent sent an email to all Riot employees, stating that the allegations against him were untrue. He emphasized his commitment to personal growth and learning, echoing Riot Games’ own journey of improving their work culture. The allegations against Laurent are among the series of controversies that Riot Games has faced regarding the treatment of female employees and work culture since a 2018 report by Kotaku. Alienware recently announced the termination of its global sponsorship for League of Legends esports due to the allegations against Laurent and other controversies involving Riot Games.