Michael Johnson (MJ)

Michael 'MJ' Johnson has an extensive work experience spanning across multiple companies and roles. Michael 'MJ' started their career as a Group Media Director at Foote, Cone & Belding, where they managed media planning and decision-making for clients such as Microsoft, Sega, Amazon, and others.

Michael 'MJ' then joined Microsoft Corporation as a Global Marketing Director, where they led the market entry strategy for Xbox Live and Interactive Entertainment Incubation. Michael 'MJ' later took on the role of Global Marketing Director for Kinect and Xbox First Party Games, where they drove marketing strategies for various game franchises and guided revenue forecasting and localization investment for the First Party Games portfolio.

After their tenure at Microsoft, MJ joined Electronic Arts (EA) as a Vice President of Brand & Product Management. In this role, they partnered with development leaders to build long-term brands and set feature priorities for game franchises. Michael 'MJ' also utilized consumer insights to inform investment priorities and shaped competitive positioning across platforms, genres, and business models.

MJ then moved to Google, where they held several global marketing director roles. Michael 'MJ' initially served as the Global Marketing Director for Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality, where they led a coordinated marketing program across Google's AR-VR investment. Michael 'MJ' also designed platform marketing guidelines and co-marketing goals with partners. Later, they became the Global Marketing Director for Stadia, responsible for the global strategic vision, brand marketing, and growth marketing of the video game platform.

Prior to their current role, MJ worked at YouTube as the Senior Director of Global Marketing for YouTube Gaming, Fan Funding & Shopping. Michael 'MJ' led content marketing and creator economy initiatives, focusing on consumer marketing and executing plans to achieve goals in brand perception and user behavior.

Currently, MJ holds the position of Vice President of Global Marketing & Commercial for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast.

Michael 'MJ' Johnson began their education in 1991 at UCLA, where they pursued a dual major in Business and Communications. Michael 'MJ' successfully completed their Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995. After a few years, from 2001 to 2003, MJ pursued further education at the University of California, Berkeley, specifically at the Haas School of Business. During this time, they focused on Marketing and Business Strategy and obtained a Master of Business Administration degree.