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Microsoft Names AI Executive Asha Sharma to Lead Xbox as Phil Spencer Retires

Sharma frames her mandate as restoring trust with core Xbox players.

Overview

  • Phil Spencer will retire as CEO of Microsoft Gaming on February 23 after 38 years at the company and will advise through the summer.
  • Asha Sharma, previously president of Microsoft CoreAI and a former Instacart and Meta executive, is appointed Executive Vice President and CEO, Microsoft Gaming.
  • Matt Booty is promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, consolidating oversight of first‑party content and reporting to Sharma.
  • Xbox president Sarah Bond is departing, according to company statements and reports from multiple outlets.
  • In her first message to staff, Sharma set three priorities—great games, a renewed focus on console and core fans, and the future of play—pledging not to “flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop.”