Former Xbox Chief Operating Officer Helen Chiang has spoken out on LinkedIn to address rumors surrounding her departure from Microsoft, stating that allegations of policy violations are "not accurate."
Chiang, who was promoted to the newly created COO role in July after a 21-year tenure at Microsoft, including her leadership of the Minecraft franchise, exited her position in late October. Her departure, just three months after the promotion, prompted speculation, with some reports from outlets like Eurogamer suggesting termination for policy violations.
In her LinkedIn statement, titled "Clarity is Kindness," Chiang directly refuted these claims. She denied leaking confidential information, engaging in discrimination or harassment, or leaving due to being passed over for another role. "I stand by my record: both the results I delivered and the way I have treated people throughout my career," she wrote, adding, "I won’t let speculation define my character or erase that record."
Chiang expressed concern over the "inaccurate story" that had emerged, stating it created a false image of her. She asserted that the standards of fairness and accountability were not consistently applied in her case. "My story is about staying true to your core values, especially when it is hard," she stated, concluding that her departure was "not the whole story."
Chiang's exit was initially confirmed by an internal memo obtained by The Verge, where Xbox CEO Asha Sharma expressed gratitude for her years of service. Sharma had previously praised Chiang for her significant contributions, including building key businesses like Xbox Live and leading Mojang and the Minecraft franchise.