Microsoft Announces Key Appointments, Including the First Female President in Xbox History
In the wake of Microsoft’s contentious $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the tech giant is undergoing significant leadership restructuring within the Xbox gaming and marketing departments.
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer communicated this internal reorganization in a memo published by The Verge. According to the memo, Sarah Bond will ascend to the role of President of Xbox, where she will be entrusted with overseeing all software and hardware platforms. This includes the forthcoming disc-less redesign of the Xbox Series X, possibly set for a 2024 release, as well as a next-generation hybrid Xbox console anticipated for 2028, details of which were leaked via FTC documents.
Matt Booty, on the other hand, has been promoted to President of Gaming Content and Studios. In this capacity, he will supervise the operations of ZeniMax and Bethesda. Notably, both ZeniMax and Bethesda will maintain their identities as a “limited integration entity,” reporting directly to Booty.
Phil Spencer emphasized the strategic importance of these changes in the memo, stating, “To manage the platform of today and build the platform of tomorrow, we are bringing together the teams that will make this possible. Sarah Bond will lead this team as President of Xbox—bringing together Devices, Player & Creator Experiences, Platform Engineering, Strategy, Business Planning, Data & Analytics, and Business Development.”
This restructuring marks a historic moment as Sarah Bond, who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the Activision Blizzard acquisition, becomes the first female president in Xbox’s 22-year history. Notably, it will also result in more women than men in leadership roles within Xbox and Microsoft once Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick departs at the end of 2023, a significant milestone in the gaming industry.
The leadership shuffle extends beyond Bond, with Joslyn Main taking on the role of Chief of Staff at Xbox and Ami Silverman assuming the position of Chief Consumer Sales Officer at Microsoft. In the broader corporate context, Cynthia Per-Lee is designated as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources, Kari Perez becomes the General Manager of Communications, and Linda Norman assumes the role of Corporate Vice President of CELA (Cloud + Enterprise Legal). This comprehensive restructuring reflects Microsoft’s commitment to evolving and strengthening its position in the ever-expanding gaming industry.