Xbox co-founder J Allard has joined Amazon to work on ‘new ideas’

Xbox co-founder J Allard joined Amazon last month, as a vice president in the company’s devices and services team. In an email to The Verge, Allard confirmed his new role but says it’s “too early to have anything to say” about what he’ll be working on at Amazon beyond “new ideas.”

Allard will be reporting up to former Windows and Surface chief Panos Panay at Amazon, according to Geek Wire. Panay left Microsoft last year after being at the software giant for almost 20 years. Allard spent more than 20 years at Microsoft, co-founding the Xbox division, launching Microsoft’s Xbox Live network, and developing the Xbox 360 console. Allard also oversaw the development of the Zune, Microsoft’s iPod competitor.

Allard departed Microsoft in 2010, following his work on the company’s canceled Courier tablet. Courier was never officially announced as a Microsoft product, but the leaked concept combined pen and touch into a digital notepad.

The Courier was reportedly canceled amid infighting between the Courier group led by Allard and the Windows group led at the time by Steven Sinofsky. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reportedly couldn’t choose between Courier and Windows and needed Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to step in and make the final decision.

Allard has spent most of his time after Microsoft running Project 529, a community service organization designed to reduce bike theft. Two Three Bird acquired Project 529 earlier this year, freeing up Allard’s time to “orient my energy towards some new ideas.”