Xbox COO Helen Chiang leaves Microsoft after months in role

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

The Verge reports that Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, is leaving Microsoft today. Chiang was promoted to the newly created Xbox COO role in July after 21 years at Microsoft and a period leading Minecraft. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced Chiang’s departure in an internal memo seen by The Verge and said Chiang’s immediate responsibilities are being split among other Xbox leaders. The Verge reports it is unclear why Chiang is departing and that Sharma said the company will share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized.

• What happened: The Verge reports that Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today; she had been promoted to the newly created Xbox chief operating officer role in July.
• Why it matters: The Verge reports the COO role was created as part of Xbox’s "reset" and — per CEO Asha Sharma quoted in the memo — carried end-to-end P&L responsibility across content, hardware, platform, and services.
• Context: The Verge reports Chiang had been at Microsoft for 21 years and served as head of Minecraft before her July promotion; she reported directly to CEO Asha Sharma.
• What next: The Verge reports Chiang’s immediate responsibilities are being split among other Xbox leaders and Sharma said the company will share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized; the memo did not explain the reason for Chiang’s departure.