Asha Sharma named CEO of Microsoft Gaming as Phil Spencer retires

(WNDU) – Asha Sharma grew to become Microsoft Gaming CEO at Microsoft on Feb. 20, 2026, as the corporate strikes previous Phil Spencer’s retirement.

Microsoft says Sharma will function government vp and CEO of Microsoft Gaming and can report back to Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.

The firm framed the change as a part of a succession plan following Spencer’s retirement choice.

In a submit on The Official Microsoft Blog that shared inside communications to workers, Nadella stated Microsoft’s gaming enterprise now reaches greater than 500 million month-to-month energetic customers and that Microsoft is a prime writer throughout platforms.

Nadella additionally pointed to the twenty fifth anniversary of Xbox as the corporate seems forward to what it known as an expansive alternative for innovation throughout gaming {hardware}, content material and neighborhood.

Nadella described Sharma as a shopper and platform chief with expertise scaling companies at world scale, noting she spent the final two years at Microsoft and beforehand served as chief working officer at Instacart and as a vp at Meta.

Microsoft positioned that background as a match for what it known as the subsequent period of development for its gaming enterprise.

The firm additionally introduced a change in its content material management. Matt Booty will turn into government vp and chief content material officer and can report back to Sharma, Microsoft stated.

Nadella stated Booty’s group has grown to span practically 40 studios throughout Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard and King, tied to franchises together with “Halo,” “The Elder Scrolls,” “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft,” “Diablo,” “Candy Crush” and “Fallout.”

Spencer will stay concerned through the transition, Microsoft stated. Nadella wrote that Spencer would proceed working carefully with Sharma to make sure a clean handoff.

Spencer, in his personal message included within the submit, stated he’ll stay in an advisory function by the summer time.

Microsoft’s submit additionally famous one other senior departure. Sarah Bond has determined to go away Microsoft “to begin a new chapter,” Spencer stated in his message.

Sharma, in her personal message shared alongside Nadella’s and Spencer’s, instructed workers she was starting the job with “humility and urgency,” and stated her first duty was to know what makes the group work and shield it.

She laid out three priorities: making “great games,” a renewed deal with Xbox’s core followers, and constructing towards what she known as the “future of play.”

Microsoft didn’t present extra particulars within the weblog submit about timing past Feb. 20 or about any additional organizational modifications.

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