Phil Spencer & Xbox President Sarah Bond Leaving Microsoft
Credit: Xbox
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced significant changes in the leadership of the Microsoft Gaming division in the company’s official blog.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has announced he will be leaving the company on February 23.
Simultaneously, Xbox President and COO Sarah Bond announced her resignation.
In his address, Spencer stated that he had been considering leaving Microsoft since the fall of 2025. In recent months, the top executive and his team have been preparing for a leadership change: Asha Sharma, who previously worked in the AI development division, will now become the head of Microsoft Gaming.
Phil Spencer had been with Microsoft since 1988, becoming head of the company’s gaming division in 2014. During this tenure, the top executive brokered two major acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, launched the Game Pass subscription service, and launched the current generation of Xbox Series consoles.
Sarah Bond joined the Xbox team in 2017 and soon became president of the division until her departure. She assisted Spencer with the development of Game Pass and the launch of the current generation of consoles, as well as with the management of gaming companies.
It’s unclear what Spencer and Bond will do after leaving Microsoft. In a statement accompanying the announcement, the former Microsoft Gaming CEO noted that, like the former Xbox president, he was beginning a new chapter in his life.
