Who is Asha Sharma? Indian-origin Xbox CEO joins Raghuram Rajan on influential US Federal Reserve task force as…

Indian-origin technology executive Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, has been appointed to a key task force by the US Federal Reserve to study productivity and employment in the American economy. The appointment was announced by Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh as part of a broader effort to review the central bank’s economic policies amid persistent inflation. While the move highlights Sharma’s growing influence in technology and artificial intelligence, it has also attracted criticism because it comes shortly after Xbox announced thousands of job cuts.

Who is Asha Sharma?

Asha Sharma is an Indian-origin business executive who became the CEO of Xbox in February 2026 after succeeding longtime Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer. Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Sharma earned a business degree from the University of Minnesota before beginning her career at Microsoft.

She later held senior leadership positions at Porch Group, Meta and Instacart, where she served as Chief Operating Officer during the company’s public listing. In 2024, Sharma returned to Microsoft as President of CoreAI Product, leading artificial intelligence and machine learning initiatives. Her work in AI helped establish her as one of Microsoft’s top executives before she was chosen to head Xbox.

Why has the Federal Reserve selected her?

The Federal Reserve has created five special task forces to improve its policy framework as the US continues to deal with inflation and changing economic conditions. Sharma will co-lead the Productivity and Jobs Task Force along with Stanford economist Charles I. Jones and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen.

The panel will study how emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are affecting productivity, employment and long-term economic growth. The findings are expected to help policymakers make better decisions on monetary policy and understand changes in the labour market.

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said the institution had brought together experts with diverse backgrounds to strengthen the central bank’s performance and improve decision-making during a challenging economic period.

Appointment comes amid Xbox layoff controversy

Sharma’s appointment has drawn attention because it comes just days after Xbox announced one of the biggest restructuring exercises in its history. The company revealed plans to eliminate around 3,200 jobs, while Microsoft has also been reducing its workforce across several business divisions.

The timing has triggered criticism on social media and among political commentators. Some questioned whether a corporate executive overseeing large-scale layoffs should be part of a task force focused on jobs and employment. Reports also highlighted Microsoft’s approval for thousands of H-1B visa workers this year, adding to the public debate.

Despite the criticism, the Federal Reserve has not indicated any change to Sharma’s appointment.

Three Indian-origin experts join Federal Reserve panels

Apart from Asha Sharma, former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan and Indian-American economist Raj Chetty have also been appointed to separate Federal Reserve task forces.

Raghuram Rajan will serve on a panel reviewing the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet policies and institutional performance, while Harvard professor Raj Chetty will co-lead the Data Task Force, which aims to improve the quality and timeliness of economic data used in policymaking.

The appointments underline the growing role of Indian-origin experts in shaping global economic and technology policies. While Sharma’s new position has generated debate because of recent layoffs at Xbox, it also places her at the centre of discussions on artificial intelligence, employment and the future of the US economy.