Amazon has reported a significant change in the leadership of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Adam Selipsky, who has been at the helm of AWS for the past three years, will be stepping down and will be replaced by Matt Garman, the current Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Global Services. The change will be effective as of June 3rd.
A Planned Transition
Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, explained that when he assumed his new role, one of his first tasks was to identify who would lead AWS. “It was important for us to have someone who understood AWS, valued our culture, and could continue to grow the business,” Jassy mentioned. Adam Selipsky, one of the first vice presidents hired at AWS in 2005, was a natural choice due to his extensive knowledge and experience.
Selipsky, after leading AWS in sales, marketing, and support for eleven years, left the company to become the CEO of Tableau. He returned to AWS in 2021, amidst the pandemic, to take the helm and prepare the next generation of leaders within the company.
Recognition for Selipsky’s Work
Under Selipsky’s leadership, AWS made strategic long-term decisions to help its customers become more cost-efficient, even if it meant less revenue in the short term. “The team continued to invent and launch new services at a rapid pace, including several generative AI services like Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q,” highlighted Jassy.
During his tenure, AWS achieved an annual revenue run rate of $100 billion in the last quarter, with year-over-year revenue acceleration. “I am deeply grateful for Adam’s leadership during this time and the dedication of the entire team to serve customers and the business,” Jassy added.
The New Leader: Matt Garman
Matt Garman, who will take over as the CEO of AWS, started his career at Amazon as an intern in 2005 and joined full-time in 2006 as one of the first AWS product managers. Throughout his career, he has held various critical roles, including managing AWS compute services and overseeing sales, marketing, support, and professional services globally.
“Matt has an unusually strong set of skills and experiences for his new role,” commented Jassy. “He is highly customer-focused, an excellent product leader, resourceful, a problem solver, and has been one of the best learners I have encountered at AWS.”
Garman expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared his excitement to continue innovating and growing alongside his team. “For me, AWS is much more than a business. We are a team of missionaries who work passionately to improve the lives and businesses of our customers every day,” he affirmed.
A Bright Future for AWS
Founded in 2006, AWS has established itself as one of the leading cloud computing companies, offering over 200 data center services globally. Its annual revenue has grown exponentially, from $12 billion in 2016 to $91 billion in 2023. With a projection to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue this year, AWS is positioned as one of the top 100 largest companies in the world if it were independent.
The leadership transition at AWS includes additional organizational adjustments that will be announced in the coming weeks, ensuring a smooth transition and continuing the legacy of innovation and growth that has characterized AWS since its inception.
The departure of Adam Selipsky and the arrival of Matt Garman mark the beginning of a new chapter for AWS. With a solid foundation built under Selipsky’s leadership and the promise of new innovations with Garman at the helm, AWS is poised to continue leading the cloud computing market and remain a driver of growth and efficiency for its customers around the world.
Source: Inside Amazon