1. Donald Allan Mattrick was born on February 13,1964 and is a Canadian businessman who co-founded Distinctive Software in 1982 in Vancouver at age 17, while graduating from high school and attending Simon Fraser University where he studied business and managerial economics.
In 1991, Don Mattrick was the chairman and the majority owner of DSI while Canadian businessman Tarrnie Williams was CEO.
Don Mattrick worked in a variety of leadership positions at Electronic Arts and, prior to leaving the company in 2005, was the president of Worldwide Studios for Electronic Arts where he oversaw EA's global studios and research and development in several major sites, including Redwood Shores, California, EALA in Los Angeles, EA Tiburon in Florida, EA Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Montreal, and EA UK in Chertsey, England.
In July 2007, Don Mattrick officially joined Microsoft as a senior vice president overseeing the Xbox 360 and PC gaming businesses, with his oversight apparently leading to an increase in video game installations and Xbox LIVE subscriptions.
Don Mattrick is largely credited for his work in developing Kinect for Xbox 360.
Don Mattrick unveiled Kinect under the code-name of "Project Natal" at E3 2009 on stage with Steven Spielberg.
In October 2010, Don Mattrick was promoted to president of the Interactive Entertainment Business, overseeing a range of consumer businesses including Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Kinect, Music, and Video, as well as PC and mobile interactive entertainment.
In May 2012, Don Mattrick was named one of CNN Money's top 10 brilliant technology visionaries.
On May 21,2013, Don Mattrick unveiled the new Xbox One, the successor to the Xbox 360, an all-in-one entertainment system.
Don Mattrick left Microsoft on July 1,2013, to join Zynga as CEO and would eventually be replaced by Phil Spencer as Head of Xbox in 2014.
On July 1,2013, it was confirmed that Don Mattrick was leaving Microsoft to join social game company Zynga as CEO.
Don Mattrick is the co-founder and co-president of MdGB Capital, a private company that manages a group assets and operating companies throughout North America and serves as an adviser to many high tech ventures such as Photonic, Nordeus, Dapper Labs and Hivestack.
Don Mattrick was made a member of the Order of British Columbia in 2024.
Don Mattrick is the 2017 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria, the 2005 Honorary Fellow University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business and a 1999 honorary Doctor of Laws at Simon Fraser University.
Don Mattrick was the Co-Chair of the British Columbia's Premier's Technology Council from 2016 to 2018 and serves since 2019 on the board of directors of the Vancouver Prostate Centre.