Microsoft has announced a major leadership change in its gaming division, with Asha Sharma appointed as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. The appointment was shared by Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, in an internal communication to employees.
Sharma, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and held a Vice President role at Meta, has been with Microsoft for the past two years. Nadella highlighted her experience in scaling global consumer platforms and building thriving ecosystems as a key factor in her selection to lead the company’s gaming business into its next phase of growth.
In addition, Matt Booty has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma. Booty has been instrumental in overseeing Microsoft Gaming’s portfolio, which includes nearly 40 studios such as Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King, responsible for iconic franchises including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout.
The leadership change comes following the retirement of Phil Spencer, who led Microsoft Gaming for 12 years. Nadella praised Spencer’s contributions, noting that he nearly tripled the size of the business, expanded the company’s reach across PC, mobile, and cloud, and executed landmark acquisitions including Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft. Spencer will work closely with Sharma to ensure a smooth transition.
In her first message to the Microsoft Gaming team, Sharma emphasized her commitment to “great games, the return of Xbox, and the future of play,” underlining the importance of both creative excellence and platform innovation. She also reiterated the need to empower developers and maintain a player-focused approach as the gaming industry evolves across devices, business models, and emerging technologies such as AI.
Booty echoed Sharma’s message, noting the organization’s readiness to adapt to changing industry dynamics while continuing to deliver on established franchises. He confirmed that no organizational changes are planned for Microsoft Gaming’s studios.
Microsoft Gaming currently serves over 500 million monthly active users globally and remains a top publisher across platforms. Nadella described the appointments as “the right combination of consumer product leadership and gaming depth to push our platform innovation and content pipeline forward.”
