Microsoft Xbox COO Helen Chiang departs after three months

Helen Chiang has left Microsoft after 21 years with the company, departing her role as the first Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Xbox just three months after her appointment. The departure was announced via an internal memo by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma on October 23, 2026.

Sharma’s communication was brief, thanking Chiang for her years of service and wishing her well without providing specific reasons for the exit. Chiang’s responsibilities will be temporarily distributed among other leadership members while the company determines a successor.

Chiang’s tenure as COO was intended to integrate Xbox’s content, hardware, platform, and service businesses under a unified operating model. Prior to this role, she held significant positions within Microsoft, including leading the Minecraft series and Mojang. Her departure occurs amidst a broader restructuring of the Xbox division, which has involved thousands of job cuts and changes to various development studios.