Asha Sharma
American business executive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asha Sharma (born 1989) is an American business executive who serves as executive vice president (EVP) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Microsoft Gaming. She succeeded Phil Spencer on February 23, 2026. Previously, Sharma served as President of Microsoft's CoreAI product.[1]
Asha Sharma | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989 (age 36–37) Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Other names | AMRAHSAHSA (gamertag) |
| Education | University of Minnesota (BS) |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Employer | Microsoft (2011–2013, 2024–present) |
| Title | EVP & CEO of Microsoft Gaming (2026–present) |
| Board member of | Coupang (2024–present) Home Depot (2025–present) |
Early life
Sharma was born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1989. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2011.[2][3] While she was a student, Sharma launched and led a center for at-risk teenagers called the A-list in Brooklyn Park. When she departed that leadership role, the center closed.[4]
Career
Sharma began her career at S.C. Johnson at the age of 17.[5] After graduating from the University of Minnesota, she joined the marketing department at Microsoft in 2011, before joining the startup home services company Porch in 2013. She remained at Porch into 2017 as its chief operating officer (COO).[4] After departing Porch, she joined Facebook as VP Product & Engineering for their Messenger and Instagram Direct products.
Instacart (2021-2024)
In February 2021, Sharma's appointment as chief operating officer (COO) of Instacart was announced.[6] She formally joined Instacart in June 2021.[7][8]
Return to Microsoft
Sharma returned to Microsoft in February 2024 to serve as President of the CoreAI division.[1] On February 20, 2026, Sharma was announced as executive vice president CEO of Microsoft Gaming following the retirement of Phil Spencer. Her selection came as a surprise, passing over Spencer's second-in-command Sarah Bond. Sharma received scrutiny for having no professional experience in the video game industry prior to her appointment to lead Xbox.[9] Sharma's history in user acquisition was a primary motivator for her selection, as Xbox has seen declining console sales over recent years.[10] In a statement following her appointment, Sharma promised to "recommit to our core Xbox fans and players" and "not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop".[11]
Board memberships
As of 2026, Sharma was serving as a board member at Coupang and Home Depot. She previously served as a board member at Porch, Seattle Foundation, and Virginia Mason Medical Center.[12][13][8]