Phil Spencer

Phil Spencer (born January 12, 1968) is an American business executive and the former CEO of Microsoft Gaming (now Xbox) from 2022 to 2026. Starting his career at Microsoft as an intern in 1988, Spencer has worked in various sectors within the company, including developing Microsoft's first CD-ROM-based titles. He joined the Xbox team in 2001, and in February of 2026, Spencer announced his retirement from Microsoft, with Asha Sharma replacing him.

Spencer joined Microsoft in 1988 as an intern and has worked in a number of technical roles, leading the development of Microsoft's first CD-ROM-based titles (such as Encarta), development manager for Microsoft Money, and general manager of Microsoft's online and offline consumer productivity products including Microsoft Works and Microsoft Picture It! During his early time at Microsoft, he was known by other employees to be an avid gamer, playing games such as Ultima Online in the office.

With the launch of the Xbox in 2001, Spencer joined the Xbox team and served as general manager of Microsoft Game Studios EMEA, working with Microsoft's European developers and studios such as Lionhead Studios and Rare until 2008, when he became the general manager of Microsoft Studios, eventually becoming the studio's corporate vice president a year later. He has participated in Microsoft's E3 conferences since 2010, until E3's final iteration in 2021.

In late March 2014, Satya Nadella announced in a corporate e-mail that Spencer was to "lead the Xbox, Xbox Live, Groove Music and Movies & TV teams, and Microsoft Studios" as part of the Windows and Devices division.

In September 2017, Spencer was promoted to the Senior Leadership Team, gaining the title of Executive Vice President of Gaming and reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella.

In 2018, Spencer delivered the keynote address at the 2018 DICE Summit and spoke at the 2018 Game Awards.

Spencer attended Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Washington, and then earned a bachelor's degree in technical and scientific communication from the University of Washington. Spencer lives in the Seattle area with his wife and two daughters.

As of 2016, Spencer was serving on the boards of the First Tee of Greater Seattle and the Entertainment Software Association.