Shane Kim

Longtime Microsoft video-game executive Shane Kim, the former Microsoft Game Studios chief, is retiring from the company. A Microsoft representative swears the 46-year-old exec really is just planning to spend more time with his family. Kim has been with the company for 19 years, including 14 in the video-game business.

Another executive, Dennis Durkin, will absorb Kim's strategy and business development duties as part of a newly created role of chief operating officer of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, reporting to Don Mattrick, the senior vice president in charge of the business. The company also promoted Phil Spencer from general manager to corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

Kim will remain at Microsoft for a transition period through the end of the year. He was shifted from his Microsoft Game Studios role to become corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the video-game division last year.

"Shane’s been an instrumental leader in the evolution of Microsoft Game Studios and the Xbox business – from the early days of Flight Simulator and Golf to the launch of the original Xbox, to the successful launches for two of the biggest entertainment franchises in the industry – Halo and Gears of War," Mattrick wrote in an email to employees. "Shane’s passion for this business and industry runs deep and he will be dearly missed."