Asha Sharma Named EVP and CEO, Microsoft Gaming as Microsoft Xbox Leadership Sees Phil Spencer Retire and Sarah Bond Depart

The newly announced executive reshuffle places Asha Sharma at the head of Microsoft Gaming and marks a significant leadership change for Microsoft Xbox: long‑time gaming chief Phil Spencer is retiring and Xbox president Sarah Bond is leaving. The moves reposition content leadership and executive oversight just as the gaming business emphasizes platform growth and creative investment.

Microsoft Xbox leadership changes: the who and what

The company’s executive communications outline a clear chain of succession and role shifts. Asha Sharma will become Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming. Matt Booty will move into the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma. Phil Spencer, who led gaming for many years, will retire and will remain engaged in a transitional advisory capacity through the summer. Sarah Bond has resigned from her role as Xbox president.

• Asha Sharma: named Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming; brings experience in consumer product leadership and platform scale from prior roles.
• Matt Booty: promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer; will oversee the studios and content pipeline working with Sharma.
• Phil Spencer: stepping down from leadership and retiring after a long tenure; will support a smooth handoff in an advisory role through the summer.
• Sarah Bond: has departed from the Xbox presidency.

Why the Microsoft Xbox shake-up matters for players and studios

The transition arrives as the gaming division highlights broad audience scale and an extensive content portfolio. Company communications note that gaming reaches over 500 million monthly active users and that the organization marks a milestone anniversary for its console brand. Leadership framed the changes as a step to align product, platform and creative priorities under new executive oversight.

Sharma’s background is presented as a blend of consumer product and platform operations, with prior roles that included senior product and operations leadership. The elevation of Booty to chief content responsibilities pairs platform leadership with a creative executive who has led the studio organization and will be tasked with stewarding franchises and new projects under Sharma’s oversight.

Immediate implications and what to watch next

Operationally, the transition centralizes executive accountability for content and platform under a new CEO for Microsoft Gaming while keeping a senior figure available to guide handover. The company message emphasizes continuity: studios, creators and players are cited as core priorities, and leadership framed the moves as deliberate, intended to preserve momentum while defining the next era for the business.

Near‑term items to monitor include how the new leadership structures influence content investment decisions, the studios’ creative roadmaps, and public messaging around the console business referenced as a renewed focus. Communications also stressed commitments to great games and a strengthened content pipeline as top priorities for the incoming team.

These developments should be considered evolving. Recent updates indicate the company is executing a planned succession process and will use the coming months to complete transitions and outline strategic priorities under the new executive team.

The changes represent one of the most consequential leadership shifts for Microsoft Xbox in years, replacing long‑standing leadership and placing new executives at the helm as the division seeks to balance scale, creative output and platform ambitions.