J Allard, CXO, surfaces at Microsoft C-level

J Allard, previously of Veep stature, has been elevated to the position of CXO (Chief eXperience Officer) and CTO of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division. That puts the man synonymous with the Zune, Xbox, and once questionable, 80's style in charge of "the technical architecture and user experiences related to products and services of the Entertainment and Devices (E&D) division." He's also cracking the whip on the E&D's "incubation team" responsible for scouting out new opportunities for the division. You know, like the Zune Phone, Xbox 360 with Blu-ray, and Microsoft Surface Sphere. Thus making him the most important man inside Microsoft... from our perspective anyway.

[via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

[Paul Evans @ Jul 1st 2008 5:42AM]

Wasn't he on Crime Watch last month?

[Tony Rayo @ Jul 1st 2008 6:19AM]

I thought it was "To Catch a Predator", but you may be right.

[Sam Zebian @ Jul 1st 2008 7:49AM]

Why do you guys have to act like that??? This guy's pretty much the father of Xbox and is now working on the Zune team. Some of the new incredible stuff coming from Microsoft? Yeah, part of that's coming from this guy. Why should you care? Well, let's say you've got a PS3 or Wii. Had the Xbox not existed yet, their online networks would probably not be too great, since they would have no competition. It just starts from there, so yeah, why talk shit about a guy who deserves some credit, unlike you two, what are you to responsible for, two crap comments on Engadget, right?

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2008 11:39AM]

Its ryan block's brother

[tubes @ Jul 1st 2008 7:00AM]

CXO
That's a pretty awesome title! Sounds very "extreme"

;-)

[Peter @ Jul 1st 2008 7:12AM]

It's reassuring to see he's sporting the shaved head and all black uniform of the trendy and hip designer.

(But then again, it could just be he dislikes combovers and suffers from color blindness)

[Philster @ Jul 1st 2008 7:28AM]

Only color blindness would explain the brown zune.

[NG @ Jul 1st 2008 7:48AM]

I think he's a little weak for inspirations

[byelaw @ Jul 1st 2008 8:04AM]

Lex Luther slumming it a bit these days?

[mrbochin23 @ Jul 1st 2008 8:29AM]

This guy, is arguable one of the mastermind in Microsoft, like someone point here in the post, he is the "father" of Xbox, look at his backgroun in his biography and you will realize how talent it this "kid" is.

[BobTurbo @ Jul 1st 2008 9:34AM]

Father of the soon to be least selling console on the market and the mp3 player with something like 2% marketshare versus the iPod with 95%. Personally I wouldn't hire him.

[tiuk @ Jul 1st 2008 12:26PM]

I'd love it if you'd share your qualifications with us, Bob.

[Mark @ Jul 1st 2008 6:25PM]

@BobTurbo:
I'm assuming you mean best selling console since more xbox 360's have been sold than PS3 or wii's. Let's not get into random biased guesses of what's going to happen 5 years from now to diss the guy, k?

[Sasha S. @ Jul 1st 2008 8:40AM]

After Bill's exit and (hopefully) pending departure of the "dancing monkey" aka Steve Ballmer - it is really nice to see someone in Micro$$oft who at least have personal style and has been boss of the department that was making good, usable products. (Brown Zune was a beginner's mistake).

So how about we all give CXO a chance and see what he will bring gadget wise. OK, guyz?

[Darth Abe @ Jul 1st 2008 8:42AM]

1. He's spot on for Lex Luther

2. I actually think he's on the right track with the zune and the xbox. Even if they aren't the greatest success in the history of electronics, they're good devices and at least he's experimenting.

3. CXO probably stands for Chief eXtreme Officer.

[wall st guy @ Jul 1st 2008 9:37AM]

The E&D division is a huge financial failure for Microsoft. Xbox is a study in poor hardware design and low quality outsourced production. The Zune is a laughable marketplace flop, 5% market share that loses money and alienated ecosystem partners.

This guy is a pathetic wannabee...as if shaving his head and a black suit will give him (or Microsoft) some hipness.

[MarkZ @ Jul 1st 2008 9:56AM]

Truly, you must be a "Wall St. Guy" with that insightful and analytical nugget.

How's your portfolio doing these days?

[farinasa @ Jul 1st 2008 10:03AM]

If he's stylish, they need to put him on the Windows Mobile team.

[Quix @ Jul 1st 2008 10:21AM]

Ballmer: "We need a brand makeover for this new Xbox thingy. People think we're sweaty dorks. We want them to think we're cool."

Allard: "Um, I could shave my head and get an earring?"

Ballmer: "Go on..."

Allard: "Uh, and I could dress all in black like those dudes at Apple. And maybe I could legally change my name from James to J? The kids are really hip to meaningless abbreviations these days."

Ballmer: "Bingo. You're the man James."

Allard: "That's J, homeskillet."

[Jimmy Jones @ Jul 1st 2008 10:38AM]

For me, I'd say he's speed racing to his termination / resigning at Microsoft. It is my believe that when you get promoted like that, you're closer to your employment life span with that company... so lets wait and see.

Good title btw.. all the best to him.

[tekdroid @ Jul 1st 2008 12:03PM]

Welcome to the CXOcial.

[Graham @ Jul 1st 2008 12:03PM]

It Howie Mandel!

....do you want to upgrade to vista?
...NO DEAL!

[JanSolo @ Jul 1st 2008 12:04PM]

If there is a Zune phone, it will be based upon the technologies that Microsoft acquired when they purchased Danger. The Hiptop/Sidekick is a consumer phone, but it needed a better form factor, to get the hell off of TMobile in the US and other software fixes to be a more mass consumer device. With Mr. Clean here leading the way, the nextgen Danger phone will be Microsoft's attempt to really challenge the iPhone because their licensees could never do it (see the HTC Touch for proof) and Microsoft's current mobile team certainly can't do it.

[MNM @ Jul 1st 2008 12:25PM]

He looks like Kevin Spacey.... just bald

[Noam @ Jul 1st 2008 2:35PM]

I agree.

[John Stracke @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

Doesn't "CXO" usually mean "any Chief Something Officer"?