J Allard rumoured to be quitting Microsoft

According to a pretty reliable" ZDNet source, Xbox baby boomer J Alard "is on sabbatical and is unlikely to return to Microsoft."

The site's saying it's been told the enigmatic exec has finally made good on repeated promises to leave the company following the cancellation of his latest project, the Courier tablet.

J was one of the original Xbox team, and a key evangelist for Microsoft's entry into the console space. Robbie Bach and Ed Fries were the two other most visible figureheads for Xbox aside from J, the limelight shifting over to the likes of Peter Moore for 360's launch.

Allard moved onto Zune after Xbox, and then Courier. We think.

A very p**sed J Allard ground his ass into my penis at an European E3 Xbox party once, because I think I annoyed him with a comment about Larry Probst.

True. Good luck, dude.