Marc Whitten

Marc Whitten is the corporate vice president for Xbox LIVE. In this role, he is responsible for leading the Xbox LIVE business and service, and managing its community of more than 25 million members worldwide. Xbox LIVE delivers games, movies, TV shows, music and more, and is the largest and most interactive social entertainment network in the living room. Whitten has been responsible for the service's growth and for bringing blockbuster partnerships such as Netflix, Facebook, Sky and ESPN to the console. Beyond the console, he is also responsible for Microsoft's entertainment services across the company; including Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone 7, Games for Windows LIVE, MSN Games, Windows LIVE Messenger Games and more. Whitten partners closely with Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, to bring unique gaming experiences to life through the interactive features of Xbox LIVE. In addition, Whitten leads the Kinect for Xbox 360 product vision. Kinect transforms how people play, entertain, and connect with a seamless controller-free experience on the Xbox 360. A college hire at Microsoft in 1997, Whitten is highly regarded for his vision and keen consumer focus. Since 2000, he has played key roles within the Xbox business, including the development and launch of Xbox, Xbox LIVE, and Xbox 360. He launched the Xbox 360 accessories business in 2005 and has since focused on enhancing the value of Xbox LIVE for everyone in the household, including delivering the transformative New Xbox Experience update in 2008. His simple vision is: "The entertainment you want, with the people you care about, wherever you are." A graduate of the University of North Texas, Whitten lives in the Seattle area with his wife and two children.