Phil Spencer Retires; Asha Sharma Named Microsoft Gaming CEO
Phil Spencer retires after 38 years; Asha Sharma will lead Microsoft Gaming while Matt Booty becomes executive vice president and chief content officer.
Overview
Phil Spencer announced he will retire after 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading the company's gaming efforts.
Spencer told Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella last fall he was thinking about stepping back and will remain at Microsoft in an advisory role through the summer to aid the transition.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote that Spencer expanded gaming, nearly tripled the business, and helped lead acquisitions including ZeniMax, Minecraft and a roughly $68.7 to $69 billion Activision Blizzard deal.
Microsoft said it reaches over 500 million monthly active users and that Microsoft Gaming spans nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard and King.
Asha Sharma said her first priorities are great games, a return to Xbox starting with console, and expansion across PC, mobile and cloud.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Microsoft’s Xbox leadership change as a management reshuffle occurring amid industry turbulence and measurable underperformance, emphasizing revenue declines, console “lagging,” and past strategic missteps while foregrounding executive praise and continuity. Editorial choices favor business metrics and competitive context over community perspectives or deeper operational explanations.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Asha Sharma is an Indian-origin executive appointed as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. She recently worked in AI platform and product leadership at Microsoft, was Chief Operating Officer at Instacart, and held product leadership roles at Meta. She holds a business degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading gaming. He informed CEO Satya Nadella last fall and will remain in an advisory role through the summer to support the transition.
Asha Sharma's first priorities are creating great games, returning focus to Xbox starting with console, and expanding across PC, mobile, and cloud.
Matt Booty will become Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Asha Sharma.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.