Former Comcaster Kunkel Joins Microsoft's Entertainment Unit

Gerard Kunkel, previously senior vice president of user experience and product design at Comcast, has joined Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business as media strategy advisor.

Kunkel, who left the MSO earlier this year, is working in the Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business, the unit focused on TV experiences and includes the Mediaroom IPTV platform, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the controller-free Kinect attachment for Xbox and related cross-platform solutions.

Prior to his role at Comcast, Kunkel was president of GuideWorks, the interactive program guide joint venture between Comcast and Gemstar-TV Guide International, from 2004 to 2008. Before that he was president of WorldGate Communications, an Internet TV technology company that later shifted focus to video phones, and was president of Broadband Applications Development Co., a software systems provider to broadband service providers.

Kunkel is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, the Consumer Electronics Association, the Usability Professionals Association and Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing.