Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as the new chief executive of its gaming division, marking one of the most significant leadership changes in Xbox’s history. Sharma succeeds long-time gaming head Phil Spencer, who is retiring after nearly four decades at the company and will stay on as an adviser through the summer. Her appointment comes at a challenging moment for Microsoft Gaming, which is facing slowing revenue growth, rising costs and intense competition in the global console and content market.
Sharma has been appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming and will report directly to Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chairman and chief executive. In her first comments following the announcement, Sharma said she would refocus on Xbox’s core audience while navigating a rapidly changing gaming landscape shaped by subscriptions, cloud gaming and large-scale acquisitions.
Asha Sharma’s journey to becoming Microsoft Gaming CEO
Before taking charge of Microsoft Gaming, Sharma built her career across some of the world’s most influential technology companies, with a strong focus on platform scale, operations, and product execution. At Microsoft, she most recently held senior leadership responsibilities in AI platform and product development, working closely with engineering and commercial teams as the company accelerated its integration of artificial intelligence across core services. The role placed her at the centre of Microsoft’s long-term AI strategy, spanning cloud infrastructure, developer platforms, and enterprise products.
Prior to Microsoft, Sharma served as chief operating officer at Instacart, where she oversaw cross-functional operations during a period of rapid expansion. Her remit included marketplace performance, business operations, and organisational scaling as the company navigated post-pandemic growth and increasing competition in the on-demand economy.
Earlier in her career, she held product leadership roles at Meta, contributing to the development and scaling of large consumer platforms. Across these roles, her work consistently focused on managing complex product ecosystems, leading large global teams, and guiding companies through phases of accelerated growth and transformation.
Sharma is US-educated and holds a business degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, a programme known for its emphasis on strategy, operations, and technology-driven leadership. While she is widely described as being of Indian origin, publicly available biographies and official company disclosures offer limited detail about her family background, and she has spoken sparingly about her personal history. Her professional trajectory, however, places her firmly within a growing group of global technology leaders shaped by diverse experiences and cross-industry expertise.
Changes across the gaming division
Alongside Sharma’s appointment, Microsoft confirmed other senior changes. Matt Booty has been promoted to chief content officer, overseeing game studios and titles, while Sarah Bond is leaving the company to pursue a new chapter. Together, the moves point to a broader reset of the Xbox leadership structure.
Sharma takes over at a time when Xbox is reassessing its identity. Competition from Sony’s PlayStation remains strong, especially in console market share and exclusive games. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether Sharma prioritises hardware, subscriptions, first-party content, or deeper integration with Microsoft’s AI and cloud businesses.
A pivotal moment
Asha Sharma’s appointment marks the start of a new chapter for Microsoft Gaming. With Phil Spencer stepping back and a restructured leadership team in place, the company is signalling a willingness to rethink strategy at a time when the global games industry is under pressure. How Sharma navigates this transition will shape Xbox’s direction for years to come.
