Microsoft Corporation announced that Phil Spencer is retiring as Microsoft Gaming CEO after nearly 40 years with the Xbox owner and 12 years in his current role. He will stay on in an adviser capacity until later in the year and remain in an advisory role through the summer to support a smooth handoff. Asha Sharma has been appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, and will be replacing Spencer as the new chief and executive vice president of Microsoft Gaming, set to lead Xbox, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
Prior to joining Microsoft in 2024, Sharma was chief operating officer of Instacart and previously vice president of product at Meta. As part of the shake-up that includes Spencer?s retirement and Sharma?s promotion, Microsoft Gaming will also see Xbox president Sarah Bond exit the company and Matt Booty promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma. Under Spencer?s leadership, Microsoft Gaming has grown to span nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King, which are home to franchises including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout.
In her first message to the Xbox team following the announcement of her promotion, Sharma wrote she feels ?two things at once: humility and urgency? in taking on the role of CEO. Marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team.
Working with her over the past several months has given tremendous confidence. She brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape future. know this is an important moment for fans, partners, and team, and we?re committed to getting it right.
As part of this transition, Sarah Bond has decided to leave Microsoft to begin a new chapter. Sarah has been instrumental during a defining period for Xbox, shaping platform strategy, expanding Game Pass and cloud gaming, supporting new hardware launches, and guiding some of the most significant moments in history.
