Microsoft is reorganizing leadership in the gaming and marketing departments at Xbox following the completion of it contentious $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The Verge published an internal memo from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer today, where he wrote to staff that Microsoft will promote Sarah Bond to president of Xbox, putting her in charge of all software and hardware platforms. That, it should be noted, may include the redesigned disc-less Xbox Series X that could release next year and a next-gen hybrid Xbox console in 2028, which both leaked in FTC documents.
Matt Booty, meanwhile, has been promoted to president of gaming content and studios, which includes the responsibility of overseeing operations at ZeniMax and Bethesda. The studio will continue operating as a "limited integration entity," but will report to Booty.
"To manage the platform of today, and build the platform of tomorrow, we are bringing together the teams that will make this possible," Spencer said in the memo. "Sarah Bond will lead this team as President of Xbox — bringing together Devices, Player & Creator Experiences, Platform Engineering, Strategy, Business Planning, Data & Analytics and Business Development."
Microsoft confirmed to IGN that the promotions are accurate, but had no further comment.
The news makes Bond, who played a major role behind the scenes of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, the first female president in Xbox's 22-year history. As The Verge notes, there will be more women than men in leadership roles within Xbox and Microsoft once Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick leaves at the end of 2023, which is a rare sight in the gaming industry.
Aside from Bond, Joslyn Main will be chief of staff at Xbox and Ami Silverman will take on the role of chief consumer sales officer at Microsoft. And at the company overall, Cynthia Per-Lee will be corporate vice president of human resources, Kari Perez will be general manager of communications, and Linda Norman will be corporate vice president of CELA.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
