Microsoft shakes up Xbox marketing as key exec departs for Roblox

Jun 18, 2024 12:42 AM - 7 months ago 149484

Microsoft is losing different cardinal Xbox executive astatine nan extremity of nan month. Xbox main trading serviceman Jerret West is leaving Microsoft to subordinate Roblox arsenic its caller CMO and caput of marketplace description . Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirmed nan move successful an soul memo to Xbox labor today, which was obtained by The Verge.

West antecedently spent 8 years astatine Microsoft connected nan Xbox trading side, earlier departing successful 2011 and past yet spending 7 years astatine Netflix arsenic nan caput of marketing. West returned to Microsoft successful precocious 2019, starring nan trading for nan motorboat of nan Xbox Series S / X consoles.

West’s squad is responsible for processing trading plans for games, hardware, and Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft is now shuffling astir immoderate of its trading teams successful nan aftermath of West’s departure, and location will beryllium a caller expanded cardinal gaming trading squad nether Kirsten Ward, VP of Xbox integrated marketing.

Spencer says nan Microsoft Gaming activity squad has “decided to spot trading person to nan businesses they support” arsenic a consequence of West’s departure. Games trading will now beryllium wrong nan crippled contented and studios section that’s led by Matt Booty. Xbox marketing, led by Chris Lee, will move to nan Xbox org and study up to Xbox president Sarah Bond.

This is nan 2nd cardinal Xbox executive resignation this year, aft erstwhile caput of Xbox emerging tech, Kareem Choudhry, near Microsoft successful early April. Choudhry’s departure triggered a akin shake-up, pinch his erstwhile squad moving to nan Xbox hardware side. A caller Xbox experiences and platforms squad was created aft Choudhry departed, pinch a push to amended nan Xbox acquisition crossed Windows and Xbox consoles.

This latest trading shake-up besides comes astir 8 months aft a large shake-up of Xbox leadership and amid continued changes to Microsoft’s gaming strategy. Microsoft promoted Bond to Xbox president successful October, starring each Xbox level and hardware work. Booty besides sewage promoted to nan president of crippled contented and studios, including overseeing Bethesda and ZeniMax studios.

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I person immoderate news to stock pinch each of you: Jerret West, who has served arsenic nan Chief Marketing Officer of Xbox for 4 and a half years, will beryllium leaving Microsoft to subordinate Roblox arsenic their caller CMO and Head of Market Expansion. His past time will beryllium June 30th.

On behalf of Team Xbox, I’d for illustration to convey Jerret for everything he accomplished. During his clip here, Jerret was instrumental successful launching and increasing communities for illustration our Xbox societal beingness to 120M followers strong, and merchandise description for illustration Game Pass which is now disposable successful much than 80 countries worldwide. He oversaw nan creation and transportation of world trading campaigns for galore games, platforms (console, PC, cloud) and marque moments specified arsenic this year’s momentous Xbox Games Showcase. Roblox is an important partner for Xbox, and we look guardant to moving pinch Jerret and nan Roblox squad to link much group astir nan world done nan powerfulness of play.

As a squad we are committed to increasing nan beardown trading capacity successful Gaming. Going forward, nan Gaming Leadership Team and I person decided to spot trading person to nan businesses they support. Games trading will beryllium wrong of Studios, Xbox trading will beryllium wrong nan Xbox team, world trading will beryllium wrong of nan Consumer Sales Org, and our centralized trading squad will study to me. The pursuing organizational changes will beryllium effective connected July 1st:

The Integrated Marketing squad led by Kirsten Ward and nan Programming and Events squad led by Tina Summerford will travel together arsenic an expanded Central Gaming Marketing squad nether Kirsten, who will study to maine arsenic a personnel of nan Gaming Executive Leadership Team. Chief of unit Pav Bhardwaj and executive adjunct Kim Nold will study to Kirsten.

The Bethesda Publishing Marketing team, led by Erin Losi, will move to Game Content and Studios, reporting to Matt Booty.

The 1P Games Marketing Team including Xbox Game Studios and Mojang, led by Aaron Greenberg, will besides move to Game Content and Studios, reporting to Matt.

The Xbox Marketing team, led by Chris Lee, will move to nan Xbox Org, reporting to Sarah Bond.

The International Marketing team, led by Jim McMullin and Florian Liewer, will move to nan Consumer Sales Org, reporting to Ami Silverman.

The Bethesda International Marketing team, led by Adam Carter, will besides move to nan Consumer Sales Org. Adam will beryllium taking connected a caller domiciled starring Business Operations astatine Bethesda, reporting to Jill Braff. The Consumer Sales Org will activity connected backfilling his domiciled and stock much astatine a later date.

We’re fortunate to person a heavy chair of talent and experience, and I’m excited to spot really our trading will germinate nether their leadership.

Phil