Just before the weekend, Microsoft dropped a huge bomb on Xbox fans, announcing major leadership changes that fans are convinced were “forced.” Up until last year, we were told that Xbox boss Phil Spencer had no plans to retire anytime soon, but effective immediately, he’s retired, and his second-in-command, Sarah Bond, left Microsoft unceremoniously.
What happened with the Xbox leadership at Microsoft?
So, what really happened? We only have speculation, not real answers. But something is amiss with the way this was handled. I’ve enjoyed a diverse career in multinational companies, and typically, retirement plans are announced months in advance.
Our readers will recall that Sony’s Jim Ryan announced his retirement well in advance, too.
It’s no surprise, then, that Microsoft’s announcement of both Spencer’s and Bond’s departures took everyone by surprise, and folks are convinced the executives were “fired”. Kinda Funny Games’ Greg Miller claims to have information that suggests Spencer’s retirement “wasn’t planned” (read: forced).
In their official statements, both Spencer and Bond mentioned that they worked with new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to ensure a smooth transition, suggesting that these changes were somewhat planned, at least. My personal take is that they were offered golden handshakes.
Interestingly, however, Microsoft’s official announcement doesn’t include a statement from Bond, who chose to share her personal statement on LinkedIn instead. Internet sleuths also went down the rabbit hole and spotted Bond’s recent posts on LinkedIn, which suggest that she had no plans to exit.
Whatever the case, it’s the end of an era for Xbox. We wish Spencer and Bond well.
The post Fans Think Xbox Boss Phil Spencer’s Retirement Wasn’t Planned appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
