David Limp is about to step down from his position as head of Amazon’s client units division later this yr. Amazon has confirmed the information with TechCrunch, following a Wall Road Journal report.
Limp has been the corporate’s Senior Vice President of units and companies for greater than 13 years. Within the position he has headed up the division that features the Echo/Alexa, together with merchandise like Amazon’s line of Hearth tablets.
The transfer follows widespread studies that its large bets on the sensible dwelling haven’t paid off the best way it was clearly hoping. In November, the division was reported to be working at a staggering $5 billion a yr income loss. It was amongst these departments closely hit by widespread layoffs. All informed, Amazon has slashed round 27,000 roles, all informed, as CEO Andy Jassy has applied value chopping measures amid financial headwinds.
“Dave will stay in his position for the following few months, and we’ll announce his successor within the coming weeks,” Jassy notes. “I stay excited and fairly optimistic concerning the services we’re constructing in Gadgets and Companies—we’re on the relative starting of what’s doable and what I imagine these companies will add for purchasers and the corporate.
However, Jassy and co. have insisted that firm is dedicated long run to client {hardware} usually and the Echo line particularly. Final week, Amazon revealed that Alexa head Rohit Prasad could be heading up expanded efforts to stay aggressive in white sizzling generative AI and huge language mannequin efforts.
Limp addressed the information in a weblog publish at the moment, stating that, “It’s time.”
He provides,
I’ve been doing a model of this job (constructing and transport client electronics) on and off for 30+ years. I find it irresistible, however I additionally need look into the long run by a unique lens. I’m not positive what that future is correct now, with the notable exception that it gained’t be within the client electronics area. I might be round for a number of extra months and we’ve so much to ship on with our fall merchandise. On condition that, it’s best to count on the identical bug studies from me for a short time extra.
The corporate is about to disclose a information lineup of units on September 20, at an occasion in Arlington, Virginia – the positioning of its secondary HQ2 places of work.
Previous to his almost 14 years at Amazon, Limp labored at Apple and Palm.
“Beneath Dave’s management, Amazon has change into one of many world’s main innovators in constructing units and underlying companies that prospects love,” says Jassy. “From Kindle readers to Hearth TV to Alexa and Echo, over the previous decade and a half we’ve been in a position to invent and maintain bettering experiences that assist make our prospects’ lives higher each day.”