Microsoft's Xbox marketing chief to depart for Roblox


FILE PHOTO: Microsoft signage is seen at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, U.S., January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight/File Photo

(Reuters) - Microsoft's marketing chief of Xbox is leaving the company to join gaming platform Roblox as their chief marketing officer as part of a broader marketing shakeup in the console maker, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday.

Jerret West oversaw the creation and delivery of multiple marketing campaigns, including those of games and consoles, and helped in product expansion such as Xbox's subscription service Game Pass, the memo from Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer said.

West spent eight years at Xbox as a part of its marketing and product division before he left for Netflix to head various marketing teams. He returned to Microsoft in 2019 as Xbox's chief marketing officer.

Earlier this month, Microsoft held its annual Xbox Games Showcase, where it unveiled new all-digital consoles and trailers for games including the new "Call of Duty" title as it looks to spark consumer enthusiasm amid broader spending weakness in the industry.

West's departure comes amid a broader restructuring in Xbox's marketing department, where a central gaming marketing team will be formed and a number of other marketing teams will be moved around.

"Going forward, the Gaming Leadership Team and I have decided to place marketing closer to the businesses they support," Spencer said in the memo.

Microsoft also shut down multiple gaming studios in May, including Arkane Austin and consolidated teams, in a cost cutting move.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Meta unveils first AI model from superintelligence team
Grab to lean on scale, AI to navigate rising fuel costs, CEO says
AI chatbots are still struggling to reliably develop software
Greece to ban social media for under-15s from 2027, calls on EU action
Samsung to launch Galaxy A57 and A37 on April 10; prices start from RM1,899
How accurate are Google’s AI overviews?
Greece expected to announce social media ban for children under 15
Pro-Iran group takes credit for cyberattacks on Chime, Pinterest
Inside a huge compound on Thailand-Cambodia border where 10,000 workers scammed people globally
Hong Kong hospital uses VR tour to ease children’s fears ahead of operations

Others Also Read