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Microsoft is shaking up its leadership in the Xbox gaming and marketing departments shortly after its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In the gaming division, Matt Booty is being promoted to president of game content and studios, taking on the added responsibility of ZeniMax. Sarah Bond is becoming the Xbox president, overseeing all platform and hardware work. On the marketing side, Chris Capossela, the chief marketing officer, is stepping down after 32 years at the company.
These changes mean that Booty will lead an expanded organization that now includes ZeniMax and Bethesda. The integration of these teams is a priority for Microsoft after the Redfall debacle. The goal is to foster collaboration between Xbox Game Studios and ZeniMax’s development studios to create great games that players will love.
Bond, who played a crucial role in the Activision Blizzard acquisition, will now be responsible for Xbox’s hardware and software platforms. She may oversee the release of a disc-less Xbox Series X next year and a next-gen hybrid console in 2028.
With these leadership changes, Microsoft will have more women in gaming leadership roles than men once Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick departs at the end of 2023.
On the marketing front, Capossela is making way for Takeshi Numoto as the new chief marketing officer. Numoto, who has been instrumental in Microsoft’s cloud transformation, will drive the company’s vision forward.
Yusuf Mehdi is being promoted to executive vice president, consumer chief marketing officer. He will champion end-user experiences and continue leading Microsoft’s AI-powered services.
Microsoft is also transferring its consumer sales organization to the Microsoft Gaming team, led by Ami Silverman. The focus of this team will be to transform gaming sales and attract new audiences.
The company now faces the task of integrating Activision Blizzard into its Microsoft Gaming division. Dave McCarthy, the chief operations officer, will lead the efforts on the operations side. Microsoft is yet to announce a new Activision Blizzard CEO to replace Kotick.
These reorganizations underscore Microsoft’s renewed focus on gaming and AI. With the recent Activision Blizzard acquisition, the company is doubling down on its gaming business. Additionally, Microsoft has been integrating AI into various products to establish itself as a leader in the field.
Overall, these leadership changes reflect Microsoft’s commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences and driving innovation in the industry.
