New Xbox CEO Hires Two Executives to Strengthen Her Team

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Xbox CEO Asha Sharma continues to implement organizational changes, most recently by appointing two key executives to form the backbone of her team. Matthew Ball has been named Xbox’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and Scott Van Vliet will serve as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Matthew Ball, assuming the role of CSO, will prioritize strengthening the console business. In February, he expressed concerns about the console market, identifying escalating memory costs as a significant issue. Ball is a well-known technology market analyst, recognized for his annual report, “The State of Video Gaming.” His extensive background also includes serving as CEO of Epyllion, a partner at the investment company Makers Fund, a senior advisor at KKR, and formerly as Head of Strategy and Planning at Amazon Studios. In his “The State Of Video Gaming 2026” report, Ball focused on the competition for consumer attention, noting that pornography, online gambling, and cryptocurrencies have emerged as direct competitors to video games.

Scott Van Vliet’s appointment as CTO follows his previous responsibilities at Microsoft, where he oversaw Azure OpenAI and AI Core infrastructure. Before this, he led the engineering of Microsoft Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Van Vliet brings experience in cloud computing and video games, having previously worked at Amazon in roles connected to Alexa, Amazon Game Studios, and the Amazon Appstore, contributing to the launch of Minecraft: Fire TV Edition. His career also includes a tenure as Vice President of Digital Games at Mattel, overseeing diverse licenses such as Batman, Barbie, Angry Birds, and Cut the Rope. At Xbox, Van Vliet’s role will involve enhancing product development methods to enable teams to deliver projects more quickly and with better results. These executive appointments coincide with Chris Schnakenberg’s promotion to Corporate Vice President of Partnerships and Business Development. Schnakenberg, who joined Microsoft in October 2024 after working at Activision Blizzard, will be responsible for managing relationships with third-party publishers and developers for Xbox.

New Xbox Leadership Reshuffle Bolsters Future of Gaming with AI Expert Asha Sharma and Microsoft Studio Commitment

These leadership changes are occurring as Xbox is undergoing a rebranding from Xbox to XBOX, though the change may not be immediately visible across all platforms. The executive shifts also follow other leadership appointments connected to Xbox’s upcoming Project Helix console initiative. Asha Sharma previously held high-ranking executive positions within Microsoft’s AI division. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has shared his perspectives on the new Xbox leadership team, expressing commitment to the future of gaming for Windows, Xbox, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and other Microsoft-owned studios.

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