Microsoft refuses to confirm nor deny Phil Harrison’s departure from the company.
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that it has learned from multiple sources at this year’s Game Developers Conference that long-standing Microsoft executive Phil Harrison has left the company.
“I don’t, no. I’m sorry, I don’t think I can say anything about that,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer told Eurogamer when asked today at GDC. Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox also refused to offer a comment when asked,and Microsoft spokesperson stepped in to say Charla wasn’t the person to ask about staffing issues, and gave the standard PR line of “the company does not comment on rumour or speculation.”
GamesIndustry.biz claims that that Harrison grew frustrated when Don Mattrick’s departure and Phil Spencer’s subsequent promotion did not result in him moving up the corporate ladder. At the time, he reportedly told Microsoft that he would leave if he wasn’t offered a new position, and now it seems that Harrison has made good on his promise.
Harrison has been with Microsoft since 2012, where he joined as VP of the Interactive Entertainment Business and EMEA. He was brought into the Xbox team by Mattrick, who it’s understood had a long standing friendship with, and mutual respect for, Harrison.
We have reached out to Microsoft for confirmation.
Source: Gamesindustry.biz
