Xbox's Chief Marketing Officer Jerret West is bidding farewell to Microsoft to take up the reins as CMO at Roblox, the preeminent online game platform and creation system. West's new role commences on July 1st, where he will report directly to Roblox CEO David Baszucki. His appointment follows the departure of Barbara Messing, Roblox's former CMO, who recently announced plans for a gap year focused on travel and board commitments with AppLovin and Vacasa.

The transition was formally announced in an internal memo to Xbox staff by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. During his tenure at Xbox, West spearheaded successful marketing campaigns spanning games, hardware, services, and flagship initiatives like Game Pass and consoles. And from 2019, West led the marketing for the launch of the Xbox Series S / X consoles. Microsoft is swiftly reorganizing its gaming marketing division under the guidance of Kirsten Ward, Vice President of Xbox Integrated Marketing.

This marks the second notable departure from Microsoft's Xbox division this year, following Kareem Choudhry, former Corporate Vice President of Xbox Emerging Technologies, who left in April. These changes coincide with Microsoft's focus on advancing Xbox's hardware innovations and enriching gaming experiences.

Earlier this year, CEO Phil Spencer underscored the company's strategic priorities amid layoffs. Xbox has undergone significant restructuring in 2024, including over 6,000 job cuts due to labor issues and connections with Activision, which have reverberated internally. These developments have fueled speculation among global enthusiasts that key team members are seeking more stable roles in other companies.