Sarah Bond is leaving Xbox

Hello team,

I know there is a lot of news to receive today.

I am extremely proud of what we have built together over the past eight years. PC and cloud gaming are growing faster than ever, our next console is well underway, and together we’ve helped lay the foundation for a more open gaming platform that spans devices and reaches gamers around the world.

When we announced our intent to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022, I committed to helping lead Xbox through a critical period of change. Over the past four years, we’ve lived through that moment together and prepared the company for what comes next. We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and we did it as a team.

With that, I decided that this was the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We live in a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m excited about what’s to come. This moment also represents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter. I’ve had the privilege of spending time with Asha over the past few weeks as we’ve planned this transformation, and I’ve seen first-hand her deep commitment to our players, developers, and brand. She brings deep technology and commerce experience, along with a proven track record of building and scaling the platforms the world uses. Xbox deserves this. I’m excited to see her lead this next chapter for our team. I will remain a special advisor to Asha to help ensure a smooth transition and set the organization up for continued success.

I want to thank Phil for his guidance and friendship over the years. He has been a consistent champion of this business and the people who make it what it is, and I have learned so much from the way he leads through opportunities and challenges. I am grateful for his trust and support throughout my time on the team. I would also like to thank Satya for his patronage and support throughout my time at Microsoft.

As I prepare to log off, I’ve been thinking about three simple questions that I’ve tried to use to guide my days:

Did I bring my best?
Have you helped someone else succeed?
Am I doing my best work?

I hope the answer is yes for many of you. It has been an honor to work alongside this team.

always,
pleasant