Microsoft has appointed a new leader to take charge of the future of one of the top brands it owns.
Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the tech giant named Sarah Bond as president of Xbox, The Verge reports. Alongside Bond, Microsoft promoted Matt Booty as president of game content and studios, which includes responsibility over new acquisition ZeniMax.
“Xbox. It’s an honor. Always,” Bond shared in a Twitter post.
Xbox. It’s an honor. Always. 💚
— BondSarahBond (@BondSarah_Bond) October 26, 2023
Prior to the promotion, Bond first joined the Microsoft family in 2017. Previously, she served as the leading video gaming company’s corporate vice president, heading up product and experience for game creators across all Microsoft software and services, according to her LinkedIn profile. In addition, she has been the leader of Microsoft’s Diversity & Inclusion Initiative as well as executive sponsor of Blacks @ Microsoft Employee Resource Group.
“To manage the platform of today, and build the platform of tomorrow, we are bringing together the teams that will make this possible,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer shared in an internal memo, according to The Verge. “Sarah Bond will lead this team as President of Xbox — bringing together Devices, Player & Creator Experiences, Platform Engineering, Strategy, Business Planning, Data & Analytics and Business Development.”
According to a Black Girl Gamers post on LinkedIn, “Sarah is the first Black Woman President at Xbox and at any major multinational gaming company.”
Under her new role overseeing the entire Xbox ecosystem, Bond will be over Xbox’s hardware and software platforms, the outlet details. Additionally, she will take charge of leading the future of the brand that could potentially “include a redesigned disc-less Xbox Series X next year and a next-gen hybrid console in 2028,” per The Verge.
The outlet notes that as a result of the change of leadership at Microsoft, there will be more women in its gaming leadership roles than men by the end of this year.
Outside of being an Xbox leader, Bond is also a board member of companies such as Chegg, Zuora, and the Entertainment Software Association, per her LinkedIn profile.