Xbox COO Helen Chiang Departs Microsoft After Short Tenure

Helen Chiang is stepping down from her role as the chief operating officer of Xbox, effective immediately. The exit comes shortly after Microsoft established the position to provide additional operational oversight for its gaming division.

Chiang, a 21-year veteran of Microsoft, previously served as the head of the Minecraft franchise before transitioning to the newly created COO role in July. The announcement was confirmed via an internal memo authored by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who stated that Chiang is leaving the company today.

The swift departure marks a significant leadership change for the Xbox unit. Microsoft has not announced a permanent replacement; instead, the company is distributing Chiang’s former responsibilities among existing members of the Xbox leadership team.

This move follows a period of organizational restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division. Chiang’s departure concludes two decades of service at the firm, where she played a central role in the growth of the Minecraft business.