Asha Sharma: asha sharma named EVP and CEO, Microsoft Gaming
On Feb 20, 2026, Satya Nadella and members of his executive team shared communications with employees announcing that asha sharma will become Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming, reporting to Nadella. The move comes as Xbox celebrates its 25th year and Microsoft says it now reaches over 500 million monthly active users.
Asha Sharma to lead Microsoft Gaming
Satya Nadella described gaming as part of Microsoft "from the start, " noting that Flight Simulator shipped before Windows and that there is a clear throughline from DirectX in the ’90s to the current accelerated‑compute era. Over the last two years at Microsoft, and previously as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and a Vice President at Meta, Asha Sharma has helped build and scale services that reach billions of people and support thriving consumer and developer ecosystems. Nadella said she brings experience building and growing platforms, aligning business models to long‑term value, and operating at global scale—capabilities he called critical for leading the gaming business into its next era of growth.
Matt Booty promoted to Chief Content
Matt Booty will become Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Asha. Nadella highlighted Matt’s lifelong commitment to games and to the people who make them. Under Matt Booty’s leadership, Microsoft Gaming has grown to span nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King.
Studios and franchise portfolio
The nearly 40 studios are home to franchises that Nadella listed as including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout. Nadella framed the company as a top publisher across all platforms and said Microsoft continues to innovate across gaming hardware, content, and community in service of creators and players everywhere.
Phil Spencer retirement and tenure
Nadella said that last year Phil Spencer made the decision to retire from the company, and that discussions about succession planning have been ongoing since. Nadella thanked Phil for his extraordinary leadership and partnership. Phil Spencer spent over 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading Gaming, during which he expanded the company’s reach across PC, mobile, and cloud and nearly tripled the size of the business. Nadella credited Spencer with helping shape Microsoft’s strategy through the acquisitions of Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft, and with strengthening culture across studios and platforms.
Transition and company outlook
Nadella said he admires Phil Spencer’s unwavering commitment to players, creators, and his team, and that Spencer will continue working closely with Asha to ensure a smooth transition. Nadella asked employees to join him in congratulating Asha and Matt on their new roles and in thanking Phil for everything he has done for Microsoft and for the industry. He described Microsoft’s creative talent across its studios and a global platform that is "second to none, " and said he is excited about capturing the opportunity ahead while staying grounded in what players and creators value.
In a personal passage included in the communications, Phil Spencer reflected on joining Microsoft as an intern in June of 1988 and called his time at the company an "epic ride" and the privilege of a lifetime. The line that follows—"Last fall, I shared with Satya that I was thinking"—is incomplete and unclear in the provided context.
Closing: The Feb 20, 2026 announcement confirms Asha Sharma’s appointment as Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming, Matt Booty’s promotion to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer reporting to Asha, and Phil Spencer’s retirement after a 38‑year tenure, with Spencer remaining involved to support a smooth transition.
