The CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced his resignation after leading the e-commerce giant’s cloud computing division for 15 years, leaving it in a “strong position.”
Adam Selipsky, who assumed the role of CEO of AWS in 2021, will be stepping down to “spend more time with family for a while, recharge a bit, and create some mental free space to reflect and consider the possibilities,” he stated in an Amazon press release.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy praised Selipsky’s leadership in the release, saying, “We were fortunate that Adam agreed to step in and lead AWS, and has deftly led the business while also developing his leadership team. Adam is now going to move on to his next challenge.”
Selipsky expressed gratitude for his experiences at Amazon, saying, “Helping all of our customers and partners to build has been an amazing experience. “Above all, I am thankful for the many friendships I’ve made here and for my talented colleagues who have taught me so much and brought so much positivity.”
Matt Garman will succeed Selipsky as CEO on June 3. Garman began his career with AWS as a summer intern in 2005.
“Matt brings an exceptionally strong skill set and extensive experience to his new role,” Jassy said in the announcement. “He’s highly customer-focused, an outstanding product leader, innovative, a smart problem-solver, frequently correct, maintains high standards, and has a significant bias for action. In his 18 years at AWS, he has been one of the most adept learners I’ve come across.”
Selipsky expressed confidence in Garman and AWS’s leadership, saying, “I’m excited to see what they and you do next because I know it will be impressive. The future is bright for AWS (and for Amazon). I wish you all the very best of luck on this adventure.”
Garman emphasized the mission-driven nature of AWS, stating, “AWS is much more than just a business. We are a team of missionaries working passionately to help make our customers’ lives and businesses better every day. It has been a privilege to work alongside all of you for the past 18 years, and I am humbled by the opportunity to continue to do so in this new broader role. I’m excited to get started!”
AWS provides cloud services that enable secure storage of data backups, emails, virtual desktops, software development and testing files, big data analytics, and customer-facing web applications. The advantages of cloud computing, according to AWS, include enhanced agility, resource elasticity, cost savings by eliminating the need for data centers and physical servers, and faster global reach for applications.
In April, AWS announced additional layoffs following a previous round that affected 9,000 employees, according to CNBC. “It is a tough day across our organization,” Selipsky wrote in a memo obtained by CNBC.
Earlier, in January, Amazon laid off more than 18,000 employees, primarily in its human resources and stores divisions, as reported by CNBC. The layoffs were attributed to a hiring surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
