Sarah Bond, the first Black woman to serve as president of Xbox, has resigned from the role she has held since October 2023.
Bond announced her departure on LinkedIn, describing the move as the right moment for personal and professional growth. A graduate of Yale and Harvard Business School, she joined Microsoft’s gaming division as corporate vice president before being elevated to president – a historic milestone for Black women in executive leadership.
During her tenure, Bond oversaw Xbox’s strategic direction, product development, and marketing, as well as the landmark acquisition of Activision Blizzard, announced in 2022. She also served as an executive sponsor of the Blacks @ Microsoft employee resource group.
“We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and did it as one team,” Bond wrote in an internal email later shared publicly.
Asha Sharma will succeed Bond as executive vice president and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, with a mandate to integrate artificial intelligence into the division’s operations. Bond will remain involved as a special advisor during the leadership transition.
Xbox, Microsoft’s flagship gaming brand, has reaffirmed its commitment to next-generation console development.
