Updated: October 8, 2009

Darren Huston is the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Consumer & Online (C&O) organization. C&O is responsible for Microsoft's global display and search advertising sales and marketing across Microsoft's consumer products including Windows, Windows phone, MSN, Windows Live, and Bing. C&O is represented by more than 3,000 professionals in more than 40 countries around the world.

Huston spent three years prior to his current role as the president and chief executive officer of Microsoft's second-largest subsidiary, Microsoft Japan. 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. He led the rollout of the Starbucks Card and Wi-Fi to Starbucks stores around the world as well as the acquisition, integration, and development of Tazo Tea Company and Hear Music. Before Starbucks, Huston was an executive in McKinsey & Co.'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 master's degree in business administration 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 two children.

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