The future has come early for Microsoft with some major changes to Xbox leadership. Phil Spencer is retiring, to be replaced by Asha Sharma as Microsoft Gaming CEO. Meanwhile, Matt Booty is now Chief Content Officer. However, the most surprising development is that Sarah Bond resigned from the company.
Given her role as Xbox President, she was earmarked to succeed Spencer when the time was right. So what made her suddenly leave? In a new post on LinkedIn, Bond said she believed it was “the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally.”
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the past eight-plus years. PC and cloud gaming are growing faster than ever, our next console is well underway, and together we’ve helped lay the foundation for a more open gaming platform that spans devices and reaches players around the world.
“When we announced our intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022, I committed to helping lead Xbox through what would be a critical period of change. Over the past four years, we’ve navigated that moment together and positioned the business for what comes next. We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and did it as one team.
“With that, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We’re living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m energized by what’s ahead.”
Aside from talking about “fresh eyes and new leadership” for the company’s “next chapter,” Bond also regarded Sharma highly. “I’ve had the privilege of spending time with Asha over the last few weeks as we’ve planned for this transition, and I’ve seen firsthand her deep commitment to our players, developers, and brand. She brings deep technology and commerce experience, along with a strong track record of building and scaling platforms that the world uses. Xbox deserves this. I’m excited to see her lead this next chapter for our team.” It’s worth noting that she presently remains as a Special Advisor to ensure a “smooth transition and set the organization up for continued success.”
Bond went on to thank Spencer “for his mentorship and friendship over the years. He’s been a consistent champion of this business and the people who make it what it is, and I’ve learned a great deal from the way he leads through both opportunity and challenge. I’m grateful for his trust and support throughout my time on the team.” Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, also received a nod for “his sponsorship and support throughout my time.”
She reflected on her legacy, boiling it down to “three simple questions I’ve tried to use to guide my days: Did I bring my best? Did I help someone else succeed? Did I do my best work? I hope the answer has been yes for many of you. It’s been a privilege to work alongside this team.”
Joining Microsoft in 2017, Bond began as a corporate VP at Xbox, in charge of gaming business development and partnerships. She would then work on the game creator experience and ecosystem before being promoted in 2023 to president of Xbox. Previous experience includes McKinsey and Company and T-Mobile, and she’s also currently part of the Entertainment Software Association’s board.
Despite the massive shift in leadership, Booty assured that there wouldn’t be changes to the organizational structure of Xbox’s studios. As for what’s next for Bond, time will tell, so stay tuned.
