Asha Sharma Named CEO of Microsoft Gaming, To Lead Xbox

Asha Sharma Named CEO of Microsoft Gaming, To Lead Xbox

Microsoft has appointed Indian-origin executive Asha Sharma as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. She will succeed Phil Spencer, who is retiring after nearly four decades with the company.

Announcing the decision, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he is confident about the future of gaming under Sharma’s leadership, highlighting its central role in the company’s consumer ambitions. Sharma will now oversee the entire gaming division, including the Xbox business.

In a message following her appointment, Sharma reaffirmed her commitment to Xbox players, stating that gaming today extends beyond hardware and lives across multiple devices.

Career Journey: From Product Leadership to Global Gaming Head

An alumna of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, Sharma brings nearly 15 years of experience in technology, product, and operations leadership roles.

She began her career at Microsoft in 2011 in marketing before moving to Porch Group as Chief Operating Officer, where she played a key role in the company’s $1 billion public debut. She later joined Meta Platforms as Vice President of Product and Engineering, leading product teams across Messenger and Instagram Direct.

Sharma also served as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart, helping steer the company toward IPO and profitability while managing large-scale operations and product portfolios.

In 2024, she rejoined Microsoft as President of Core AI Product, leading AI models, applications, and developer tools globally. Prior to her new role, she also served as Corporate Vice President and Head of Product for Microsoft’s AI Platform.

As part of the restructuring, Matt Booty has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma. Microsoft Gaming now spans nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King — home to major franchises such as Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.

With Sharma at the helm, Microsoft is expected to further expand its gaming ecosystem beyond traditional consoles, strengthening its presence across platforms and devices worldwide.