Xbox's first chief operating officer Helen Chiang leaves three months after the role was created

Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, is leaving Microsoft three months after the role was created, CEO Asha Sharma said in an internal memo. Chiang spent 21 years at Xbox and led the Minecraft franchise before moving into the COO role in July 2026; the reason for her departure has not been disclosed. Xbox is expected to cut 3,200 jobs this year, and Arkane Lyon faces closure as soon as mid-November if no buyer is found.