Microsoft's latest round of layoffs has brought renewed attention to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, one of the most talked-about leaders in the gaming industry this year.
The spotlight on Asha Sharma comes after Microsoft announced plans to cut around 4,800 jobs, or roughly 2.1% of its global workforce, with a significant number of reductions affecting Xbox and Microsoft's commercial sales division. As employees grappled with the news, Sharma shared a lengthy internal memo outlining what she described as the "most significant restructure in Xbox history." She made headlines earlier this year for giving away free Xbox Series X25 consoles to thousands of fans during Xbox FanFest in Los Angeles.
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Who is Asha Sharma?
Asha Sharma is an Indian-origin technology executive who currently serves as the CEO of Xbox, Microsoft's gaming division.
Born in India and raised in the United States, Sharma built her career across some of the world's biggest technology companies before taking over the top role at Xbox. She is widely recognized for her expertise in product strategy, digital platforms, consumer technology and business growth.
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Over the years, she has held leadership positions at companies including Microsoft and Meta, where she worked on products focused on creators, developers and digital ecosystems. The 36-year-old took charge as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming in February this year, succeeding Phil Spencer, who was associated with the company for 38 years.
Before taking the role of Xbox CEO, Sharma first served in a marketing role at Microsoft from 2011 to 2013. She then worked at Porch Group as COO, VP (Product and Engineering) at Meta, and COO at Instacart, before joining Microsoft again in 2024 as President, CoreAI Product.
Why did Asha Sharma trend earlier this year?
Sharma became a major talking point among gamers during Xbox FanFest in Los Angeles in 2026.
At the event, she surprised attendees by announcing that every FanFest participant would receive a free Xbox Series X25 console. The unexpected giveaway quickly went viral across social media and gaming forums, earning praise from Xbox fans around the world.
The move was seen as part of Sharma's effort to strengthen Xbox's relationship with its gaming community and generate excitement around the brand's future hardware and software plans.
The giveaway also helped introduce Sharma to many gamers who were unfamiliar with the executive behind Xbox's strategic direction.
The memo that put Xbox under scrutiny
Sharma is now at the centre of storm as Microsoft announced fresh round of layoffs in its Xbox gaming division. In an internal message to employees following Microsoft's latest layoffs, she announced that Xbox would undergo a major restructuring throughout fiscal year 2027.
