Xbox COO Helen Chiang Departs Microsoft After 21 Years

Helen Chiang, the first-ever Chief Operating Officer of Xbox, departed Microsoft on October 23, 2026, ending a 21-year tenure with the company. Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, announced the departure in an internal memo, noting that Chiang's responsibilities will be divided among other leaders until a permanent leadership plan is finalized.

Chiang assumed the COO role in July 2026 as part of a broader organizational reset designed to consolidate P&L responsibility across content, hardware, platform, and services. This restructuring followed a period of significant turmoil, including 3,200 layoffs and the departure of studios such as Double Fine, Undead Labs, and Compulsion Games. Reports indicate further layoffs are expected in November and January, while studios like Arkane Lyon and Ninja Theory face potential closure or sale.

Microsoft has officially declined to discuss the specific circumstances of the exit, citing a policy against discussing individual personnel matters. However, an unverified source alleged that Chiang was terminated for policy violations.