Xbox’s Sarah Bond Announces Departure From Microsoft
▼ Summary
– Sarah Bond announced her departure as Xbox President, stating it was the right time for her next step personally and professionally.
– She highlighted key achievements during her tenure, including growth in PC/cloud gaming and the foundation for a more open gaming platform.
– Bond noted she helped lead Xbox through the critical period of acquiring Activision Blizzard, navigating major challenges.
– She expressed confidence in her successor, Asha Sharma, and will remain as a Special Advisor to ensure a smooth transition.
– In her statement, Bond thanked Phil Spencer and Satya Nadella for their mentorship and support throughout her career at Microsoft.
The recent announcement of Sarah Bond’s departure from Microsoft alongside Phil Spencer’s retirement marks a significant leadership transition for Xbox. In a personal statement shared on LinkedIn, Bond reflected on her eight-year tenure, highlighting key achievements and the strategic timing of her exit. While not detailing specific reasons, she emphasized that this move felt right for her personal and professional growth, coming at a pivotal moment for the gaming platform.
Bond pointed to substantial progress under her leadership, noting that PC and cloud gaming are experiencing unprecedented growth. She also confirmed that development on the next Xbox console is advancing steadily. A major focus of her statement was the foundational work completed to create a more open gaming ecosystem that connects players across various devices globally.
She addressed the monumental period following the 2022 announcement of the intent to acquire Activision Blizzard. Bond stated she had committed to steering Xbox through that critical phase of change, a challenge she described as one of the organization’s greatest. According to her, the team successfully navigated those years and has now positioned the business for its future trajectory.
With that chapter closed, Bond explained her decision to step down. She expressed enthusiasm for the transformative technological era shaping the industry’s next generation. Her departure, she suggested, opens a unique opportunity for new leadership to guide the team forward. She endorsed her successor, Asha Sharma, praising Sharma’s deep commitment to players and developers, along with her proven expertise in technology, commerce, and platform scaling. Bond confirmed she will remain as a Special Advisor to ensure a smooth handover.
The statement included heartfelt thanks to Phil Spencer for his mentorship and friendship, and to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for his ongoing support. Bond concluded by sharing the three guiding questions she used throughout her career: whether she brought her best, helped others succeed, and did her best work. She expressed hope that her colleagues would answer affirmatively and called it a privilege to have worked with the team.
Her message served to underscore the major challenges overcome and the future-ready position of the business, while warmly ushering in the new leadership era under Asha Sharma. The gaming community widely extends its best wishes to Sarah Bond for her future endeavors, anticipating her continued impact in the industry she helped shape.
(Source: Pure XBOX)
