Xbox COO Helen Chiang Departs After Just Months in Newly Created Role

Image: Xbox’s first chief operating officer is out after just a few months · Source

Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, leaves Microsoft after a brief tenure focused on unifying Xbox's business model under one operating structure. Her departure comes amid reports of upcoming layoffs.

Helen Chiang, who was appointed as Xbox's inaugural chief operating officer (COO) in July, has left Microsoft after serving only a few months in the new leadership role. Her departure was announced in a short internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, shared with The Verge, confirming Chiang's exit on the same day.

Chiang had been with Microsoft for 21 years and previously led the Minecraft division before her promotion to COO—a role described as a first for Xbox. The position was designed to oversee all aspects of Xbox’s profit and loss, spanning content, hardware, platform, and services. The aim was to unify Xbox’s businesses within a single operating model to improve investment decisions, accountability, and learning from both successes and failures.

Despite the abrupt nature of the announcement and Chiang’s responsibilities being redistributed among other Xbox leaders temporarily, Microsoft's communication staff declined to comment on the reasons behind her sudden departure. Xbox vice president of communications Kari Perez emphasized gratitude for Chiang's contributions but did not elaborate on the circumstances.

Chiang's exit coincides with rumors of further Xbox layoffs anticipated in the coming months, including November and January, adding speculation about organizational changes within the division. Xbox CEO Sharma indicated that the COO role will remain and that further leadership updates will be shared once plans are finalized.

This development signals a notable shift in Xbox's executive team shortly after a significant reorganization intended to centralize operational functions and accountability. It remains unconfirmed whether Chiang’s exit was voluntary or part of broader strategic changes during a turbulent period for Xbox’s internal structure.