Three former Ubisoft executives to stand trial on sexual harassment and bullying charges
Three former Ubisoft executives, including Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux, will appear in a French court on charges of sexual harassment and psychological bullying.
Here's What We Know
The charges against the three former Ubisoft executives include numerous instances of unacceptable behaviour:
- Serge Hascoet, the former chief creative officer, is accused of making racist remarks and humiliating employees. In particular, he allegedly asked a Muslim employee about her attitude to the Islamic State terrorist organisation after the 2015 Paris attacks. Her desk was also reportedly decorated with a bacon image during Ramadan.
- Tommy Francois, former vice president of editorial and creative services, is accused of sexual harassment, including watching pornography in the office, forcing physical acts during corporate events, and making offensive comments about colleagues' appearance.
- Guillaume Patrux, a game designer and director, is accused of psychological bullying of employees.
The trial was scheduled to begin on 11 March 2025 but was postponed to June due to a delay in the provision of key evidence. The plaintiffs' lawyer Maud Bekkers said that important documents from Ubisoft were provided only four days before the trial. She also called for the company's management and HR representatives to testify.
The allegations are part of a broader investigation into Ubisoft's toxic management culture that has been ongoing since 2020. At that time, dozens of employees publicly reported cases of sexual harassment and bullying by management. In response, Ubisoft announced large-scale changes to its corporate culture.
Source: France24
