Microsoft announced significant leadership changes for Xbox on May 5, 2026. The company introduced several new executives from Microsoft CoreAI to reshape the organization. These appointments mark a strategic shift in how the gaming platform is engineered and developed.
Jared Palmer joined as VP of Engineering and Technical Advisor to CEO Asha Sharma. He will focus on building world-class tools, services, and experiences for developers and players across the Xbox ecosystem. Tim Allen was hired to lead design with a fan-first focus, bringing together product design, engineering, research, and creative teams.
Xbox Leadership Changes
- Jared Palmer joins as VP of Engineering and Technical Advisor to CEO Asha Sharma.
- Tim Allen hired to lead design with a fan-first focus.
- Jason Ronald promoted to VP of Next Gen, accountable for Project Helix.
Jonathan McKay entered as growth, data platform, and analytics lead to drive organizational expansion. Evan Chaki leads a forward-deployed engineering group focused on removing repetitive work and simplifying development. On the hardware side, Jason Ronald was promoted to VP of Next Gen and is accountable for Project Helix and the Xbox platform.
Kevin Gammill is stepping down as VP of Xbox UX after almost two decades at the corporation. Roanne Sones, corporate VP of Xbox Devices, is taking a leave of absence. Asha Sharma stated that the goal with this change is simple: build a platform that is affordable, personal, and open by staying close to the work and the people they serve.
The Verge and Insider Gaming reported on these executive moves alongside Microsoft CoreAI sources. The leadership reorganization reflects a broader strategy to modernize Xbox engineering and development processes.
