Xbox TV buyers resigns from Microsoft

Former Universal Television chairman Blair Westlake has resigned from the entertainment arm of computer software firm Microsoft.

Westlake was Microsoft’s corporate VP, media and entertainment group, a role that saw him oversee a team that licences TV shows for Microsoft platforms such as the Xbox Live entertainment platform.

Microsoft has been reorganising its company structure following the news that CEO Steve Ballmer was retiring. The company is best known as a software giant, but has been increasingly focusing on entertainment since drafting in former CBS boss Nancy Tellem last year.

Westlake is a former Universal TV & Networks Group chairman and has also consulted for Comcast and NBCUniversal.

He has issued a statement reading: “As the reorganization has unfolded, it has become clear to me that the organisation is moving in a direction that does not fit either my expertise or skill sets. Therefore, I have made the decision to leave Microsoft.

“I have had the privilege of working with numerous talented and professional people. While I will miss their company and our interaction, I truly believe that this move is in the best interest of all parties concerned.”