Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast (WotC) and Hasbro Gaming, has announced her resignation effective April 26, 2024, a significant move for one of the major names in tabletop gaming. Her departure was disclosed through an SEC filing by Hasbro, the parent company of WotC, known for iconic franchises like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
Williams, who took the helm at WotC in 2022, replaced Chris Cocks when he was promoted to CEO of Hasbro. She brought to WotC a background from Microsoft, where she managed the Gaming Ecosystem Commercial Team, and prior to that, a tenure at Amazon. Under her leadership, WotC focused on digitizing its major brands and streamlining operations, a strategy laid out in their Blueprint 2.0. A strategy that certainly not all of the tabletop community was happy with.
Her time at WotC was not without its controversies, most notably the mishandling of the Open Gaming License for Dungeons & Dragons which faced backlash from the gaming community. Despite this, Williams also saw through periods of record sales and significant product launches.
Hasbro is actively searching for Williams’ successor, considering both internal and external candidates. The company has expressed its gratitude for Williams’ contributions and looks forward to what she will achieve next. “We’re excited for Cynthia to take the next step in her career and grateful for the contributions she has made,” a Hasbro representative commented.
The resignation comes at a critical time as WotC celebrates the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, amidst planning a major reboot of the game’s core rules set to roll out later this year. The transition in leadership will be closely watched by the industry and community alike, as the company aims to maintain its leadership in the ever-evolving world of tabletop gaming.