Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks Takes Direct Control of Wizards of the Coast

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks has assumed direct oversight of Wizards of the Coast (WotC), the division managing the company's most prominent gaming franchises. The move follows the departure of WotC president John Hight, signaling a tighter integration between corporate leadership and the company's core gaming assets.

John Hight officially stepped down as president of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming on September 1, 2026. According to a Hasbro representative, the existing Wizards leadership team will report directly to Cocks on an interim basis. While Hight has transitioned out of his executive role, he will remain with the company as an advisor for one year. Hasbro has confirmed it is currently conducting both internal and external searches for a new president, though the company has not provided a specific timeline for the appointment.

Strategic Realignment

This leadership transition comes amid a broader reassessment of Hasbro's digital gaming portfolio. During a July 21 earnings call, Cocks outlined a strategy centered on focus, cost discipline, ownable platforms, and partnership. This pivot involves concentrating investments on core properties, specifically Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering Arena, and D&D Beyond.

Despite the executive shake-up, Hasbro maintains that its primary development goals remain steady. The company confirmed that two major upcoming video game releases, "Exodus" and "Warlock," remain on track for their scheduled 2027 launches.

Industry Implications

By removing a layer of management between the CEO and the operational leads of Magic and D&D, Hasbro is placing its most profitable gaming assets under the direct control of its top executive. This structure potentially accelerates the implementation of Cocks' vision for digital consolidation and the expansion of "Universes Beyond" crossovers, which integrate external intellectual properties into the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem.

For the industry, the move suggests that Hasbro views the stability and growth of WotC as too critical to leave to interim management during a period of aggressive cost-cutting and strategic pivoting. It ensures that the creative and operational directions of these franchises are aligned exactly with the corporate head's mandates.

Future Outlook

Observers will be watching for the profile of the eventual new president to see if Hasbro seeks a creative lead or a corporate operator to maintain Cocks' current trajectory. Until then, the direct reporting line to the CEO suggests a period of high-level scrutiny for WotC's output. While John Hight noted that the success of these games is the result of "extraordinarily talented people" rather than any single individual, the interim reporting structure places the ultimate decision-making power firmly in the hands of the CEO.