Key information
Helen Chiang has departed her position as the first-ever chief operating officer at Xbox, a role she held for only three months. CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the exit in an internal memo, expressing gratitude for Chiang's 21 years of service to the company.
The COO role was established in July 2026 as part of a significant restructuring effort at Xbox. Sharma previously stated the position was created to manage end-to-end profit and loss responsibilities across hardware, content, services, and platforms, aiming to unify the company's fragmented operations.
While Chiang previously led the Minecraft franchise and contributed to Xbox Live, the specific reasons for her brief tenure in this new executive capacity remain undisclosed. Her departure follows a long history of leadership within the organization.
This leadership change occurs amid broader instability, with 3,200 employees expected to face layoffs this year. Other studios, such as Arkane Lyon, face potential closure, while industry-wide challenges persist, including the recent closure of BioWare by EA.
