Jeff Bezos Steps Down As Amazon CEO, Who Will Take Over?

Jeff Bezos will step down from the position of Amazon’s CEO. Bezos announced that he will step down from the CEO’s position and instead take on the role of Executive Chairman. Bezos announced that he wishes to focus on other projects as well and the position of Executive Chairman will help him in doing that. Replacing Bezos will be another one of Amazon biggie, Andy Jassy.

Bezos sent an email to all the employees in which he wrote, "As Executive Chairman, I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions. I've never had more energy, and this is not about retiring. I'm super passionate about the impact I think these organisations can have.”

The man who will succeed Bezos will be Andy Jassy, the man who handles Amazon Web Services (AWS). Under Jassy, AWS made $12.7 billion in sales in the fourth quarter. He has been in the position for as long as AWS was here.

Jassy joined Amazon in 1997 and has been in the company ever since. He initially worked as the technical adviser to Bezos and grew in the company, later being named CEO of AWS. Now that Jassy will take over as the CEO of Amazon.Inc, he will have to understand that market, logistics and consumer behavior in order to manage it as well as he managed AWS.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated both Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy on their new journey. “Congrats @JeffBezos, best wishes for Day 1 and Earth fund. Congrats @ajassy on your new role!” he wrote.

Congrats @JeffBezos , best wishes for Day 1 and Earth fund. Congrats @ajassy on your new role!

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 2, 2021

CEO of Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella, as well took to Twitter in order to wish Bezos and Jassy. “Congratulations to Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy on your new roles. A well-deserved recognition of what you have accomplished,” posted Nadella.

Congratulations to @JeffBezos and @ajassy on your new roles. A well-deserved recognition of what you have accomplished.

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) February 2, 2021

While many were congratulating Bezos, people also pointed out how this is a well thought out and a move taken in order to stay away from the public eye. Robert Reich, Berkeley professor and former Secretary of Labor said that Jeff Bezos is not quitting anything. By becoming Executive Chair of the Amazon Board, he will hold more power while also avoiding the media.

“Jeff Bezos did not "quit". He is becoming the Executive Chair of the Amazon Board. He will be even more powerful while avoiding the media scrutiny. More power. Less accountability,” wrote Reich.

Jeff Bezos did not "quit". He is becoming the Executive Chair of the Amazon Board. He will be even more powerful while avoiding the media scrutiny.

More power. Less accountability.

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) February 2, 2021

“Reminder: We still need to break up Amazon,” he added.