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Darren Huston is Corporate Vice President of a new global organization called Consumer & Online International (COI). This group owns Microsoft’s end-to-end consumer business (PC, phone, web) in all markets outside the United States. COI drives all sales, marketing, content & programming, business development, and operations across Windows, Windows Mobile, Windows Live, MSN, MS.COM, advertising sales, and other services. COI was created to deliver great end-to-end experiences to consumers around the world, in close cooperation with a broad network of retail and online partners, advertisers, and publishers.
Huston was previously the President and CEO of Microsoft Japan since July 1, 2005. Founded 20 years ago and with a workforce of more than 2,000 employees, Microsoft Japan is Microsoft’s second-largest subsidiary. Additionally, because Japan is home to some of the world’s most advanced consumer and commercial technology, Huston will rely on and share the knowledge and experiences he gained in Japan as he leads the Consumer & Online International group.
Huston joined Microsoft in September 2003 as Corporate Vice President of the Small and Mid-Market Solutions & Partners Group in the United States.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Huston held senior leadership positions in major global companies. He was a senior vice president at Starbucks Coffee Company, in charge of acquisitions, alliances and new product development. Notably, he led the rollout of the Starbucks Card and Wi-Fi to Starbucks stores around the world. Before Starbucks, Huston was an executive in McKinsey & Company’s marketing and strategy practices, working with senior business leaders across a variety of industries. Prior to his position at McKinsey, Huston was an economic advisor in the Canadian government, helping to negotiate the 1992 Earth Summit and the original global accords on climate change and biodiversity.
Huston has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trent University in Canada, a master’s degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Harvard University. Huston is also a graduate of the United World College in Trieste, Italy.
In his free time, Huston enjoys exploring the world with his wife and children. | 