Activision Blizzard announced today in a press release that Johanna Faries, former NFL executive, has been named the new Head of Call of Duty Esports.

The Call of Duty esports program has been named the Call of Duty World League since 2015; Activision has been operating the league with MLG, both of which are owned subsidiaries of Activision Blizzard.

Activision Blizzard, Inc. announced the addition of veteran National Football League executive Johanna Faries to the company’s Esports Leagues leadership team, where she will serve as Head of Product for the Call of Duty® World League. Faries brings over a decade of experience from the NFL with an emphasis on business and fan development. In her new role, Faries will oversee strategic leadership, business operations and product development for the Call of Duty World League.

“The addition of Johanna to our leadership team demonstrates our commitment to maintaining a world class organization with the objective of further expanding our shared vision in esports,” said Pete Vlastelica, President and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. ”Johanna has a proven track record throughout her tenure with the NFL of leading key business initiatives and driving fan engagement. She is a great addition to our organization and I look forward to working with her in her new role.”

“We’re excited for Johanna to join the Call of Duty World League team. She brings a ton of experience at the highest-level connecting players and fans together through their love of competition,” said Rob Kostich, EVP and GM, Call of Duty. ”She’s a perfect fit for the CWL. We have great momentum behind the league and are about to start our most exciting season yet. We’re committed to delivering the best experience to our fans, our players and the entire community, and look forward to Johanna helping us deliver on that promise.”

“To join a world class organization like Activision Blizzard in this role is as exciting as it is an honor,” said Faries. “With esports exploding in popularity, there is no doubt that Call of Duty is well positioned to be a major force in shaping the future of professional competition as we know it.”

The 2018-19 CWL Season for Black Ops 4 begins December 7-9 with CWL Las Vegas. Activision announced that the 2018-2019 Season will feature a $6 million prize pool, with new Pro League Formats, and more. More info on the season is available here.