Microsoft corporate shuffle: Phil Spencer moves up while Shane Kim moves out

After 19 years of faithful service to Microsoft, Shane Kim has decided to leave the company in order to spend more time with his family. Kim, for those just tuning in, is corporate vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, and one of the most prevalent "faces" of the not-actually-micro mega-company's gaming division. He'll be making his exit this fall, according to a report by Industry Gamers.

In Kim's wake, Phil Spencer will be promoted to corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. He was formerly its GM.

For now, Microsoft doesn't plan on filling Kim's vacated position in its IEB, but you can bet that Phil Spencer will be seeing even more action without Kim around to lighten the load. Fortunately, he'll be assisted by Dennis Durkin, who's taken up the newly created mantel of chief operating officer of Microsoft's IEB.

Has it really been 19 years already? Best of luck, Shane. Tell the wife we said "hello."