Spencer to succeed Kim at Microsoft

Microsoft’s Shane Kim (pictured), a 19-year veteran of the firm, is to retire.

Currently corporate vice president of Strategy and Business Development for the Interactive Entertainment Business (i.e. Xbox) and previously corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios, Kim had an active role in the introduction and growth of software for the Xbox platform.

Specifically, he oversaw and approved games like Halo, Gears of War and Fable.

Kim will retire from the organisation by the end of the year.

In his place, current general manager of Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer will be promoted to corporate vice president.

Spencer recently oversaw the restructuring of MGS in preparation for the likes of Natal, as he confirmed to Develop in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is creating a new role to compensate for Kim’s absence in a biz dev sense – Dennis Durkin is to take the role of chief operating officer for the Xbox business.

Click here for part one of our recent interview with new Microsoft Game Studios VP Phil Spencer.

Click here for part two.