Bonnie Ross to leave Xbox and 343 Industries
Co-founder and general manager of Halo studio departing to attend to a "family medical issue"
Corporate vice president of Xbox Game Studios and head of 343 Industries Bonnie Ross has announced her departure from the two firms.
In a post shared to Twitter, Ross said she had "hoped to stay with Halo until we released the winter update," but added that she'll be leaving and "attended to a family medical issue."
Ross added: "It has been an honour to serve alongside the team for the last 14 years and to be a part of a universe that I love."
While Ross' statement only mentions 343, WindowsCentral reports that she is also leaving her post at Xbox.
"After more than 28 years in gaming at Microsoft, including 15 years leading 343 Industries and Halo through its most ambitious steps forward, Bonnie Ross will be leaving Microsoft and spending more time with her family," a quote shared to WindowsCentral reads.
"We are thankful for her leadership of 343 during which the team launched Halo 4, Halo 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the Halo television series, and Halo Infinite. We wish her all the best."
The outlet reports that 343 Industries head of production Pierre Hinze will step into the role of studio head, effective immediately. Two new roles have also been created; general manager of franchise and business and operations lead, which will be filled by Bryan Koski and Elizabeth Van Wyck, respectively.
Ross was made general manager of Xbox Game Studios in 2005, and in 2007, helped co-found 343 Industries to oversee the Halo franchise, after its original developer Bungie split from Microsoft to become an independent company.
Since then, she has been overseeing the development of Halo properties at 343, from Halo 4 – its debut release in 2012, to Halo Infinite, released in 2021.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Xbox to confirm Ross' departure from the firm.