Xbox co-founder J Allard will join Amazon as vice president of devices and services
J Allard, the co-founder of Xbox, has officially joined Amazon as vice president of devices and services.
As reported by GeekWirethe first sign of Allard’s career change came from him LinkedIn profile where his last role was updated to “vp, product – amazon”.
Amazon has since confirmed the news in the publication, stating that Allard has joined the company’s Devices and Services team, the division responsible for Alexa and Echo devices, among other things.
Speak with The edgeAllard confirmed his new role, but could not discuss the projects he will be working on. He said it’s “too early to say” beyond Amazon’s “new ideas.”
Allard worked at Microsoft from 1991 to 2010. As Chief Experience Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, he co-founded Xbox, which launched in 2001, Xbox Live, Live Arcade and 2005’s Xbox 360.
He also helped launch more than 40 products at the company, including the Zune portable media player, and was also involved with Windows NT and Microsoft’s Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
After leaving Microsoft in 2010, Allard spent time running his own company called Project 529, a community-run service that specializes in combating bike theft and promoting cycling.
Allard returned to the games industry at Intellivision Entertainment in 2020 as global director, but left the company a year later.