Phil Spencer Retires; Asha Sharma Named CEO of Microsoft Gaming

Phil Spencer is retiring from his role leading Microsoft’s Gaming division after more than a decade at the top of Xbox. Sarah Bond, the president of Xbox, is also leaving the company. Asha Sharma, formerly president of Microsoft’s CoreAI product, has been promoted to CEO of Microsoft Gaming, and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has been named chief content officer.

Spencer will remain with Xbox through the summer in an advisory role. Spencer wrote in an email that he had told Satya Nadella last fall he was thinking about stepping back and that the transition had been planned to ensure stability. He welcomed Sharma to the team and said working with her over recent months gave him confidence in the handoff.

In her email, Sharma set out three priorities: great games, a recommitment to core Xbox fans and console, and a focus on the future of play.

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