Microsoft Xbox leadership overhaul: Asha Sharma named EVP and CEO as Phil Spencer steps back
Asha Sharma will become Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Gaming, a shift that coincides with Phil Spencer’s decision to step back after a long tenure and other senior departures. The change matters now because it places new leadership over a business that reaches over 500 million monthly active users and spans a broad studio and franchise portfolio.
Development details — Microsoft Xbox leadership changes
Company communications confirm that Asha Sharma will report to the chief executive and assume the role of Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Matt Booty is being promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer and will report to Sharma. Leadership communications note that Phil Spencer made the decision to retire and will continue working closely with the incoming CEO to ensure a smooth transition; he is expected to remain in an advisory capacity through the summer. Separately, the president of the Xbox brand, Sarah Bond, has resigned from her role.
The announcement highlights recent scale and assets under the gaming division: the business now reaches over 500 million monthly active users, is described as a top publisher across platforms, and has grown to nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King, housing franchises such as Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout.
Context and pressure points
Executives framed the change as the result of succession planning that began when Spencer signaled his intent to step back. In communications to staff, leadership emphasized that gaming has been integral to the company’s consumer ambitions and that the organization has expanded across PC, mobile, and cloud. Over Spencer’s tenure the gaming business expanded through major acquisitions and by broadening platform reach; communications note that such moves helped reshape the unit and its strategic footprint.
What makes this notable is the combination of a new platform-oriented CEO and a seasoned content executive taking operational responsibility for studios and franchises. The company highlighted Sharma’s background in consumer product and platform growth, citing prior roles scaling services at other firms and recent work at the company. Booty’s promotion was positioned as recognition of his long-standing leadership of the publishing and studio portfolio.
Immediate impact
The leadership change directly affects executive oversight across publishing, studio operations, and partnerships. Studios and development teams that operate under the publishing umbrella will report up through the new content and platform structure, with Booty accountable for content and Sharma responsible for the broader gaming business. Players and developer partners can expect continuity commitments: communications pledge a focus on “great games” and stability while the handoff proceeds.
Sarah Bond’s departure removes a recent steward of partnerships and the public-facing presidency of the brand; Bond had joined the organization as a partnerships vice president and became brand president in a subsequent promotion. Phil Spencer’s continued advisory role through the summer is intended to provide continuity for teams, partners, and external stakeholders during the transition.
Forward outlook
The immediate next steps are operational: Sharma and Booty will assume their roles and work with Spencer to manage the handoff, and leadership has signaled a priority on protecting what works across studios and platforms. Confirmed milestones include the continued advisory involvement of Spencer through the summer and the formal reorganization reflected in executive reporting lines.
The timing matters because the change arrives as the gaming business marks a milestone year and reports a large monthly active user base; leadership framed the move as preparing the organization for its next era of growth. For employees, developers, and players the key confirmed signal is continuity paired with new executive priorities: platform leadership under Sharma and content leadership under Booty, with Spencer available to support the transition.
As the transition proceeds, observers within the company will be watching early personnel and investment decisions from the incoming CEO and Chief Content Officer for concrete indications of strategic emphasis. The matter remains under review as the new leadership team takes operational control.
