Asha Sharma to Lead Microsoft Gaming as Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond Exit
asha sharma will take over as CEO of Microsoft Gaming after Phil Spencer announced he is leaving Xbox, a leadership change that also includes the departure of Xbox president Sarah Bond and the promotion of Matt Booty to chief content officer.
Asha Sharma outlines priorities in her first memo
Asha Sharma, who joined Microsoft in 2024 as President of its CoreAI product, opened her tenure with an internal memo that stressed a return to strong games and a broader platform strategy. In the memo she wrote, "Everything begins here. We must have great games beloved by players before we do anything, " and said the company will "empower our studios, invest in iconic franchises, and back bold new ideas. "
Spencer to stay on as an adviser while Booty moves to content chief
Phil Spencer told staff he had been planning to "step back" and that the transition would be handled with intention; he will remain in an advisory role through the summer to support the handoff. Spencer also welcomed Sharma in an email, writing that she "brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future. " The division will have Matt Booty elevated to chief content officer to work alongside Sharma, a move Sharma herself referenced when she said she had promoted him in honor of a recommitment to game craft.
Sarah Bond leaves after rising to president in 2023
Sarah Bond, who joined Xbox in 2017 as VP overseeing partnerships and became president in 2023, is departing the company as part of this executive shake-up. Bond had been a frequent public face for the business during major moments such as the Activision acquisition and other consumer-facing events.
Sharma’s memo balanced a defense of studio-driven game craft—"games will always be art, crafted by humans"—with an acceptance that "monetization and AI will evolve and influence this future. " She explicitly rejected what she called "soulless AI slop" while laying out plans to pursue Xbox Everywhere, saying the brand will renew commitment to consoles while expanding across PC, mobile, and cloud.
The changes leave a leadership team charged with stewarding a large portfolio of studios and franchises built under Spencer’s tenure and with meeting corporate expectations; Spencer noted the need for a "thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead. " Sharma wrote that she feels "two things at once: humility and urgency, " and that her first job is to "understand what makes this work and protect it. "
With Spencer remaining to advise through the summer and Sharma beginning her role with a public memo that names clear operational priorities, the next confirmed milestone is the start of her tenure and the internal rollout of her plan alongside Booty’s new responsibilities as chief content officer.
