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Posted on July 11, 2012, GameFront Staff RUMOR: EA CEO John Riccitiello to be Removed, Peter Moore to Step In

Yesterday, EA CEO John Riccitiello was all over the news thanks to comments from Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. Pachter told an audience at the Develop Conference, “He’s worried about being fired and worried why his stock has hit such a low point.” Pachter ‘clarified’ his statements later, saying that he was “quoted ‘accurately’ but was kidding.”

Today, Game Front has been told by an anonymous source close to the matter that there may be substance to Riccitiello’s worries. According to this source, at some point soon after the July 30 earnings call, Riccitiello will be asked to step down as CEO, and industry veteran Peter Moore (currently EA’s Chief Operating Officer) will be promoted to that position.

Our source noted that this change is not set in stone. The change at the top still needs to be voted on, so the results of that vote could change the story dramatically. One thing our source would confirm is the general feeling of tension throughout EA’s studios in the wake of the company’s falling stock prices.

Riccitiello served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of EA from October 1997 through April 2004, when he left to co-found Elevation partners. He returned to EA in 2007, this time as CEO, a position he has held since. He’s been at the helm of the company through many changes, including the launch of the Origin platform and the recent decision to point the company in an all digital direction.

While we haven’t been able to confirm the accuracy of this report, we have reached out to EA for comment on this story, and we’ll update it with any response they might have. We’ll also keep an ear to the ground and let you know if any confirmations are forthcoming.