Microsoft (MSFT) has appointed company insider Asha Sharma as executive vice president and CEO of its gaming division to replace Phil Spencer, who is retiring after a 38-year stint at the software maker.
Sharma, who most recently led product development for AI models and services at Microsoft (MSFT), will report to CEO Satya Nadella as part of a wider leadership shakeup at the unit, the company said on Friday.
The Xbox maker announced that Matt Booty, who previously served as president of its game content and studios, will become executive vice president and chief content officer, reporting to Asha.
Meanwhile, Sarah Bond, president and chief operating officer at Xbox, has decided to exit Microsoft (MSFT) “to begin a new chapter,” according to the company.
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and I want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team,” said Spencer, who led the gaming unit for 12 years.
He is expected to serve Microsoft in an advisory capacity through the summer to ensure a smooth transition.
“Last year, Phil Spencer made the decision to retire from the company, and since then, we’ve been talking about succession planning,” Nadella said. “Together, Asha and Matt have the right combination of consumer product leadership and gaming depth to push our platform innovation and content pipeline forward.”