J Allard
Doctor of Letters
J Allard is a senior vice president at Microsoft Corporation, where he serves as chief experience officer and chief technology officer for the Entertainment and Devices Division, with responsibility for the technical architecture and user experiences related to products and services of the division.
Mr. Allard works closely with technical leaders across the company to align Entertainment and Devices Division product teams with Microsoft’s overall services strategy and product architecture, and drives the technical and design agenda to deliver connected entertainment experiences for consumers. With a personal passion for the potential of digital entertainment, Mr. Allard manages the division’s design group and also oversees an incubation team that scouts new opportunities.
Known for his ability to take a fresh look at business problems and opportunities, he managed the technical development of the Xbox game console and Zune media player. He helped shape the company’s Internet strategy, has generated more than 30 products at Microsoft, and was a founding member of the Xbox, Windows NT, and TCP/IP product families.
His technical vision, ability to push for innovation, and accomplishments are widely recognized in the industry. He has been named to lists of leaders and notable figures, including The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 35 Entertainment Execs Under 35” and Details’ list of “The Most Powerful Men Under 38,” and he is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders program. He is a co-founder of Project 529, a professional mountain biking team.
He is a 1991 graduate of Boston University with a degree in computer science from the College of Arts & Sciences. He received the CAS Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003.
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