By Tom Warren
Publication Date: 2026-02-23 14:54:00
Xbox fans had been anticipating the retirement of Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer for years, but what most hadn’t expected was the departure of Xbox president Sarah Bond too. For many outside the company, Bond seemed like Spencer’s natural successor, a deputy of sorts.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Microsoft CFO Amy Hood clearly didn’t agree.
Instead of picking Bond for the role, Microsoft promoted Asha Sharma, a former Microsoft AI executive, to the top of Xbox. The decision to overlook Bond might have surprised many Xbox fans, but for the more than a dozen current and former Microsoft employees I’ve been speaking to, it’s felt inevitable in recent months.
Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s long-term Xbox chief, made the decision to resign from Microsoft last year after a tough few years for Xbox. The giant Activision Blizzard acquisition had dragged on for far longer than Microsoft had anticipated, and the need to grow the business saw Microsoft walk away from Xbox-exclusive…
