J Allard, a pivotal figure in the gaming industry as a co-founder of Xbox, has recently made a substantial leap in his professional path by joining Amazon in the role of vice president for devices and services. This transition marks an exciting new chapter for Allard.
The first indication of Allard's shift was observed on his LinkedIn profile, which now reflects his present role as the vice president of product development at Amazon. Following this update, Amazon officially confirmed his appointment to the company's Devices and Services team. This division is notably responsible for developing products like Alexa and Echo.
In a conversation with a media outlet, Allard acknowledged his new position but mentioned that it was premature for him to share specific details about his projects, emphasizing that there are "new ideas" on the horizon at Amazon.
Allard's extensive background in the tech industry began at Microsoft, where he worked from 1991 until 2010. During his tenure, he held prominent positions including chief experience officer and chief technology officer in Microsoft's entertainment and devices sector. He was a key figure in the creation of Xbox, launching it in 2001, as well as Xbox Live, Live Arcade, and the Xbox 360 in 2005.
Moreover, he participated in the formulation of over 40 products at Microsoft, including the Zune media player, and contributed to advancements like Windows NT and the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
After his departure from Microsoft in 2010, Allard founded his own venture called Project 529, focusing on a community-driven initiative aimed at preventing bike theft and encouraging cycling. This venture allowed him to engage in a new domain before returning to the gaming sector.
In 2020, Allard re-entered the gaming world by joining Intellivision Entertainment as the global managing director. However, he departed from this role within a year, leading up to his current engagement at Amazon.