Former Ubisoft execs Thomas François, Serge Hascoët, and Guillaume Patrux have been given suspended prison sentences for sexual and psychological harassment.
As reported by The Guardian, the trial – which began in June – saw an “overwhelming” amount of evidence of harassment against Ubisoft employees from the three former executives.
During the trial, employees described the company’s offices in Montreuil, Paris as being run “with a toxic culture of bullying and sexism”.
François, former vice president of editorial and creative services, received a three-year suspended sentence and fined €30,000 for sexual harassment, psychological harassment, and “an attempted sexual assault”. He left Ubisoft in August 2020 following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Former CCO Hascoët was found guilty of psychological harassment and “complicity in sexual harassment”. He was given an 18-month suspended sentence and fined €45,000. Hascoët, who oversaw Ubisoft’s editorial team, resigned in July 2020 following a number of accusations.
Former game designer Patrux received a 12-month suspended sentence and fined €10,000 for psychological harassment.
As reported by France24, lawyer for the civil parties affected Maude Beckers described the ruling as “a very good decision today, and for the future”.
“For all companies, it means that when there is toxic management, managers must be held accountable and employers can no longer let it slide.”
François, Hascoët, and Patrux were arrested by French police in 2023 – along with two other employees – following a year-long investigation. All three former executives denied the charges.