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Helen Chiang Is Leaving Microsoft, Xbox's First COO Out After 21 Years
An internal Xbox memo seen by The Verge says the company's first-ever chief operating officer is gone, and the exit lands in the middle of layoffs and studio divestments.
Xbox's first COO is out
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first-ever chief operating officer, is leaving Microsoft, according to an internal Xbox memo seen by The Verge. [1][2] The role was created only about three months before her departure, and she is no longer in it. [2][3]
If you follow Xbox leadership, this is another change at the top of a division that has had several. Chiang had been with Xbox for 21 years. [2]
What the memo and Xbox say
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wrote in the memo that Chiang is departing and wished her well. [3] Xbox vice president of communications Kari Perez said the company is grateful for Chiang's service and wishes her well. [1]
The reason for Chiang's departure has not been disclosed. [3] Xbox declined to discuss individual personnel matters when asked about her exit. [4]
The Verge reports that the sudden memo and the reassignment of Chiang's responsibilities make it seem like her exit was not a resignation. [1]
What the COO job covered
Chiang was reassigned to chief operating officer in July. [3] The role carried end-to-end P&L responsibility across content, hardware, platform, and services, and Chiang reported directly to Sharma. [2]
Sharma said the COO role was needed to work toward a shared goal and make tradeoffs as Xbox's headcount grew and the company became more fragmented. [2]
For now, Chiang's immediate responsibilities will be divided among other Xbox leaders until a permanent leadership plan for the role is finalized. [4] Sharma said Xbox will share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized. [2]
Who Chiang is at Xbox
Before becoming COO, Chiang was head of Mojang and a corporate vice president of Microsoft. [3] She was also part of the team that ushered in Xbox Live and XBLA. [3]
The restructuring around her exit
Xbox is reported to be preparing more layoffs in November and January. [1] The division is expected to see 3,200 total employees lose their jobs this year. [2]
Several Xbox studios have been divested as a result of the restructuring. [2] Arkane Lyon, which is working on Marvel's Blade, faces closure as soon as mid-November if a buyer is not found. [2]
Leadership was already in flux. Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond vacated their Xbox posts before Sharma took hers in February. [3] During her short tenure, Sharma announced a new Xbox console. [3]
What it means for you
If you play or follow Xbox games, the near-term items to watch are the reported layoffs in November and January. [1] Arkane Lyon, the studio working on Marvel's Blade, faces closure as soon as mid-November if a buyer is not found. [2]
On leadership, Xbox has said it will share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized. [2] Until then, Chiang's immediate responsibilities are split among other Xbox leaders. [4]
The Xbox news arrives in a rough week for the industry. EA announced the closure of BioWare the same week as Chiang's departure. [2]
Sources
- Xbox’s first chief operating officer is out after just a few months — The Verge
- Xbox's First-Ever Chief Operating Officer Leaves Role Just Three Months After It Was Created — IGN
- Xbox’s Chief Operating Officer Out Three Months After Role’s Creation — Kotaku
- Xbox chief operating officer Helen Chiang steps down after three months — Gematsu
Written from the sources above and checked twice before publishing. How we work · Report an error
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