3 minBusiness
Xbox COO Helen Chiang Leaves Role Three Months After Creation
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first-ever chief operating officer, has left the position about three months after it was created, according to an internal memo from CEO Asha Sharma. The departure comes amid a broader restructuring at Xbox that has included layoffs and studio divestments.
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first-ever chief operating officer, has left the role just three months after it was created, according to an internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. The memo, verified by The Verge, included a brief statement from Sharma on Chiang's exit. « Helen Chiang is leaving Microsoft today. I'm grateful for her years of service and wish her well, » Sharma said. « We'll share more on COO leadership as plans are finalized. »
Chiang had been with Xbox for 21 years. Before taking on the chief operating officer position in July, she led the Minecraft franchise. Her promotion was announced during a major restructuring of Xbox that summer. At the time, Sharma explained that the new role was needed to « work toward a shared goal, make the right tradeoffs, and get things done » as Xbox's headcount grew and the company became « more fragmented. »
When the position was introduced, Sharma said it would carry end-to-end profit and loss responsibility across content, hardware, platform, and services, and that Chiang would report directly to her. « Over nearly two decades at Xbox, Helen has helped build some of our most important businesses, from Xbox Live to leading Mojang and the Minecraft franchise, » Sharma said at the time. She added that Chiang would bring the businesses together under one operating model, making clear investment decisions and holding the company accountable for results.
The reason for Chiang's departure after such a short time in the role has not been disclosed. Her exit is notable given her long tenure at the company, and Sharma's memo indicated that plans for the chief operating officer position are still being finalized.
The departure comes as Xbox continues an ongoing internal restructuring. Reports indicate that 3,200 employees are expected to lose their jobs this year, and several studios have been divested as part of the rework. Double Fine has found stability after being divested, while Arkane Lyon, the studio working on Marvel's Blade, faces closure as soon as mid-November if a buyer is not found. The studio was affected by the reshuffling at Microsoft, leaving fans and industry observers uncertain about the project's future.
The wider games industry is also seeing major upheaval. EA announced this week that it is closing BioWare, the 30-year-old role-playing game developer known for Dragon Age, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect. The next Mass Effect game was also canceled, prompting outcry and calls for a boycott from players. A full-length trailer for the game leaked online, and analysts say it is unlikely EA will sell BioWare's intellectual property or hand it to another studio.
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