FEW OF US can say that we leveraged one of our lifelong passions into a successful career, helping to shift the paradigm of an entire industry and redefine how future generations will experience it.

Activision Blizzard’s Steve Young did just that–taking his love for video games all the way to the top in his recently announced post as president of Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group, a division of one of the most prolific and impactful video game companies in the world.

“I’m pretty much a lifelong gamer, from my first Atari 2600 to the Commodore 64 and first in-home console generation to today’s high-end gaming PCs,” says Young. “It’s been incredible to see and be a part of how games content and its communities continue to grow and evolve.”

Activision Blizzard, which ranked No. 98 on License Global’s annual Top 150 Global Licensors report in 2018 and reported $262 million in retail sales of licensed consumer products, is a proven trailblazer among gaming companies and has quickly emerged as a leader in the esports space.

Last February, Young was named president of Activision Blizzard Consumer Products Group. But Young’s storied career at Activision Blizzard began more than a decade ago.

“I’ve been part of Activision Blizzard for more than 14 years, holding a number of roles both domestically and internationally across general management, sales and retail marketing,” says Young. “Most recently, I served as chief revenue officer for Activision.”

Before joining Activision Blizzard, Young spent 13 years in brand management and sales at Unilever.

“I feel lucky for being part of two dynamic organizations, both leaders within their industry, and for the opportunity to continue working across the globe with people who are passionate about what they do,” says Young...

Read the full story in the latest issue of License Global Magazine!