Xbox chief Phil Spencer joins Microsoft's Senior Leadership Team

Xbox chief Phil Spencer joins Microsoft's Senior Leadership Team
Xbox chief Phil Spencer joins Microsoft's Senior Leadership Team

Phil Spencer

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at Microsoft now has a new member. As reported by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has informed employees that Xbox chief Phil Spencer is joining the now 16-member SLT as Executive Vice President of Gaming at Microsoft.

Spencer has held several roles at Microsoft prior to his new role as Executive Vice President of Gaming. In addition to his previous role as head of Xbox, Spencer also held positions as the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Studios and General Manager for Microsoft Game Studios EMEA. According to his new executive profile, Spencer is now "accountable for leading Microsoft's gaming business across all devices and services."

Aside from being a move up for Spencer, the move signals the increasing importance of gaming for Microsoft as it prepares to launch the upcoming Xbox One X and looks to burgeoning platforms like Windows Mixed Reality for future gaming initiatives.

The news also comes as Nadella informed employees that the Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS) team will move from the Cloud and Enterprise unit to Windows and Devices, ZDNet reports. Corporate Vice President Brad Anderson will still head the team and will report to head of Windows and Devices Terry Myerson.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl