Vivendi (EPA: VIV) CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy is to chair Call Of Duty and Guitar Hero game publisher Activision (NSDQ: ATVI) Blizzard’s board, replacing Vivendi’s human resources director René Pénisson, who has announced his retirement after his term expires this year. Robert Kotick remains CEO.

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The French media conglomerate merged its games unit with Activision to create Activision Blizzard last summer, and already expects to beat its February estimate for Q1 earnings. The appointment of Lévy signals Vivendi’s continuing influence, however, and from a higher level than Pénisson. Meanwhile, Stéphane Roussel, the human resources MD of Vivendi’s mobile unit SFR, is stepping up to replace Pénisson’s main HR role. Release.

(Photo: MEDEF, some rights reserved)