Xbox Leadership Continues to Shift with Departures of Lori Wright and Haiyan Zhang

Microsoft’s Xbox division is experiencing continued leadership changes in 2026, with the departures of Lori Wright, corporate vice president of partnerships, business development, and marketing, and Haiyan Zhang, general manager of gaming AI at Xbox. These exits follow a period of significant restructuring within the company, including the retirement of Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and the resignation of former president Sarah Bond.

Lori Wright’s Departure

Lori Wright announced her departure on LinkedIn on March 19, 2026, stating she would be leaving in the “coming weeks.” Insider Gaming reports Wright expressed gratitude for her decade at Xbox and her future plans involve “a lot of beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and discovering what lies in the space in between.”

Wright’s role involved leading global partnerships and business development, including publishing and platform partnerships, content licensing, developer programs, and market expansion.

Haiyan Zhang’s Move to Netflix

Haiyan Zhang is also leaving Microsoft after more than a decade with the company, joining Netflix’s gaming team. Eurogamer reports Zhang described her departure as stepping into the “next phase of [her] career” and embarking on a “new adventure.” She playfully dismissed comparisons of her resignation to others leaving a “sinking ship,” stating it was “just a new job.”

Broader Restructuring at Xbox

These departures are part of a larger restructuring effort at Xbox. Asha Sharma has transitioned from Microsoft’s AI division to become the new head of Xbox, with Matt Booty appointed as the new CCO. Sharma has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its core Xbox player base and confirmed that “Project Helix” remains the codename for the next-generation Xbox console.

The ongoing changes in leadership come as Xbox aims to innovate and maintain its position in the gaming market. Allkeyshop highlights the continued shifts in Xbox leadership throughout 2026.