Microsoft Gaming Names Asha Sharma as EVP and CEO
Asha Sharma was previously Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and a Vice President at Meta
by
Published: Feb 23, 2026 8:51 AM | 2 min read
Follow Us
Microsoft has appointed Asha Sharma as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Gaming. She will report directly to Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella.
Before joining Microsoft Gaming, Sharma worked as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and earlier held a leadership role as Vice President at Meta.
As part of the leadership changes, Matt Booty has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, and he will report to Sharma. Under Booty’s leadership, Microsoft Gaming has expanded to nearly 40 studios across Xbox, Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, and King. These studios are behind popular franchises such as Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and Fallout.
Commenting on the changes, Satya Nadella said Sharma and Booty together bring strong consumer product experience and deep knowledge of gaming. He also shared that Phil Spencer had decided to retire after a long career at Microsoft. Nadella thanked Phil Spencer for his 38 years with the company, including 12 years leading the gaming division. During his time, Spencer helped grow the business significantly, expand into PC, mobile, and cloud gaming, and guide major acquisitions such as Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Minecraft. Nadella added that Spencer will work closely with Sharma to ensure a smooth transition.
Asha Sharma said she feels both proud and responsible to lead a team that has built a strong gaming legacy over many years. She noted that the gaming industry is changing quickly and that the company must move forward with focus and clear direction. Sharma thanked Phil Spencer and the teams across studios and platforms for building a strong foundation. She said her priority is to understand what makes Microsoft Gaming successful and protect that while continuing to grow and innovate.
Read more news about People Movement, Internet Advertising, Marketing, Digital Media, PR and Corporate Communication
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & Google News
Tags
Gaming
Microsoft
Satya nadella
Asha Sharma
Microsoft Gaming
Matt Booty
Asha Sharma Microsoft
Microsoft Gaming CEO
Microsoft Gaming leadership
EVP and CEO Microsoft Gaming
Satya Nadella Microsoft Gaming
Matt Booty Chief Content Officer
Asha Sharma named EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming
Microsoft appoints new CEO for gaming division
Asha Sharma career at Instacart and Meta
Asha Sharma Microsoft Gaming
Asha Sharma CEO Microsoft Gaming
Asha Sharma appointed EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming