AWS Shake-Up: Top Executive Departures Mark a Year of Transition
Sign up for ARPU: Stay ahead of the curve on tech news.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the dominant force in cloud computing, experienced a significant executive turnover in 2024, according to CRN. Despite recording record revenue and profitability, the company saw the departure of several key figures, including former CEO Adam Selipsky and veteran AI innovator Matt Wood.
AWS, currently commanding 31 percent of the global cloud services market, achieved a record annual revenue run rate of $110 billion following a $27.5 billion third-quarter sales performance. Notably, AWS remains the most profitable business unit within Amazon, with operating income for the recent quarter reaching $10.4 billion, a 48 percent year-over-year increase.
While AWS has also made notable hires in 2024, including prominent figures from AI and robotics automation companies, the executive departures highlight a period of significant transition for the cloud giant.
Five Key Departures
CRN outlines the five most significant AWS executive departures of 2024:
1. Adam Selipsky: The former CEO, who returned to AWS in 2021 after a stint at Palo Alto Networks, stepped down in August 2024. Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO, assumed direct oversight of AWS following Selipsky's departure.
2. Matt Wood: A key figure in AWS's AI development, Wood left the company in September 2024 after 18 years. His departure followed a period of significant investment in AWS's AI capabilities.
3. David Eisenberg: The former Senior Vice President of Worldwide Public Sector Sales exited AWS in January 2024 after a decade with the company.
4. Peter DeSantis: A founding member of AWS, DeSantis, previously Senior Vice President of Engineering, left the company in March 2024.
5. Swami Sivasubramanian: The former Senior Vice President of Worldwide Infrastructure left AWS in June 2024.
These departures, while reflecting a period of transition for AWS, come amidst continued growth and innovation within the company. Despite the changes, AWS remains a dominant force in the global cloud computing market.