In a significant shakeup within Microsoft's gaming division, Xbox President and COO Sarah Bond has confirmed her departure from the company. This announcement arrives shortly after the revelation that Phil Spencer, a 35-year veteran of the company, is stepping down as head of gaming to be replaced by Asha Sharma, the former head of CoreAI.
Bond took to LinkedIn to address the transition, stating that the current moment feels right for her to pursue new personal and professional paths. Her exit marks the end of an eight-year tenure at Microsoft, where she began by managing gaming partnerships before ascending to the role of Xbox President in 2023.
Reflecting on Achievements
During her time in leadership, Bond played a pivotal role in navigating the company through a transformative period. She highlighted the successful navigation of the Activision Blizzard acquisition as a key accomplishment. Furthermore, Bond noted that the division has laid the groundwork for a more open gaming ecosystem, with PC and cloud gaming sectors experiencing rapid growth. She also confirmed that development on the next generation of Xbox hardware is already well underway.
Supporting the New Leadership
Despite the sudden nature of the leadership changes, Bond expressed strong support for her successor, Asha Sharma. Bond praised Sharma's deep experience in technology and commerce, suggesting that her background in scaling platforms makes her the ideal candidate to lead Xbox into its next chapter.
To ensure continuity, Bond confirmed she will remain with Microsoft temporarily as a special advisor. She concluded her statement by thanking Phil Spencer for his mentorship and friendship, as well as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for his sponsorship throughout her time at the company.
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