Blair Westlake

Blair Westlake is a prominent figure in the media and entertainment industry, known for his extensive experience and leadership roles. He is currently a Member of the Board of Trustees at Research to Prevent Blindness, an organization dedicated to funding research aimed at preventing blindness and preserving vision.

Professional Background

• Former Corporate Vice President at Microsoft: Westlake served as the corporate vice president of media and entertainment at Microsoft from 2004 to 2014. In this role, he was responsible for licensing movies, television shows, and music for various Microsoft platforms including Xbox and Windows devices.12
• Chairman at Universal Television: Prior to his tenure at Microsoft, he held several key positions at Universal Studios, culminating in his role as Chairman of Universal Television & Networks Group. He was instrumental in transforming the domestic syndication model into a global distribution network.2

Board Memberships

In addition to his role at Research to Prevent Blindness, Westlake holds or has held board positions with various organizations:

• Public Investment Fund (PIF) Entertainment Development & Investment Company
• Swank Motion Pictures, Inc.
• KCTS 9, a PBS station in Seattle
• EMP Museum, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.12

Education and Recognition

Westlake earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School. He has received multiple awards for his contributions to media and entertainment, including the Whittier College School of Law Alumni Award for Business Excellence.2

Overall, Blair Westlake's extensive background in media strategy and entertainment makes him a significant contributor to both industry advancements and philanthropic efforts in vision research.