Asha Sharma, 38, was appointed by Satya Nadella in February to turn around Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is posting profit margins of around 3%, three to ten times lower than its competitors. With no prior video game experience, this executive has already laid off 1,868 people as part of a plan to cut 3,200 positions, while consolidating studios and redirecting resources toward major franchises. Her strategic plan includes an overhaul of Game Pass with a tiered structure, the launch of a new handheld device by the 2027 holiday season, and a new console by the 2028 holiday season. Microsoft spent $69 billion to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2023, making Xbox its third-largest business by revenue at an estimated $21 billion, but current-generation Xbox consoles have sold at just over a third of PlayStation 5 units.
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