Key information
Xbox has announced two significant leadership appointments to support its Creator and Connection initiatives. Kayleen Walters is transitioning from Mojang to become President of the newly formed XP division, while Maria Angelidou-Smith joins the company as the new CEO of Mojang and Minecraft.
The XP division, standing for Experience Points, focuses on expanding franchises beyond gaming. It encompasses four key areas: Xbox Pictures for adaptations, Xbox Products for merchandise, Xbox Partnerships for brand collaborations, and Xbox Places for live events and location-based experiences.
Kayleen Walters brings extensive experience from her time at Lucasfilm and Mojang, where she helped grow consumer products into a multibillion-dollar business. She also served as Executive Producer for A Minecraft Movie, which was the largest film in the U.S. last year.
Maria Angelidou-Smith, who previously held leadership roles at Meta, Personio, and Reddit, will lead Mojang starting Monday, October 19. Her background includes managing massive community platforms and overseeing product and engineering organizations through periods of significant growth.
