Amazon names Dave Clark consumer CEO to replace retiring Jeff Wilke

Amazon.com Inc. has named logistics boss Dave Clark chief executive officer of its retail business.

By:BLOOMBERG
| Updated on: Aug 20 2022, 22:29 IST
Clark, who is 47, will run the Worldwide Consumer unit, a group that encompasses most of what shoppers know of Amazon, including the retail website and the growing logistics empire that stocks and delivers items.
Clark, who is 47, will run the Worldwide Consumer unit, a group that encompasses most of what shoppers know of Amazon, including the retail website and the growing logistics empire that stocks and delivers items. (REUTERS)

Amazon.com has named logistics boss Dave Clark chief executive officer of its retail business.

He'll replace Jeff Wilke, a longtime lieutenant to founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos. Wilke plans to retire in the first quarter of 2021, the company announced in a securities filing.

You may be interested in

MobilesTablets Laptops
7% OFF
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Black Titanium
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
23% OFF
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
  • Green
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
Google Pixel 8 Pro
  • Obsidian
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
  • Black
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage

Clark, who is 47, will run the Worldwide Consumer unit, a group that encompasses most of what shoppers know of Amazon, including the retail website and the growing logistics empire that stocks and delivers items.

Also read
Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

A veteran Amazon executive, Clark joined Amazon out of business school. Shortly after being named logistics chief in 2013, his first holiday shopping season was marred by weather disruptions and logistical bottlenecks. The incident helped convince Amazon to proceed with a massive buildout of its capacity to move its own goods.

The company went from dozens of warehouses to hundreds, backed up by long-haul trailers, tens of thousands of Amazon-branded delivery vans and an air-cargo fleet -- a logistics empire that is now among the largest in the world. Clark recently added oversight of Amazon's physical retail footprint, including Whole Foods Market stores.

He has emerged as one of Amazon's highest-profile executives, taking to Twitter to post whimsical videos of delivery drivers dancing or to defend the company's reputation from news stories critical of Amazon's practices.

Clark's logistics group was hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, which sent orders skyrocketing even as many employees stopped coming to work to shelter at home. The company hired 175,000 staffers to help meet demand, and for a time prioritized restocking in-demand items, cutting out some smaller sellers who had come to depend upon Amazon's warehouse space. The company has faced criticism from employees who say Amazon hasn't done enough to keep them safe during the pandemic.

Wilke, 53, was widely considered a potential successor to Bezos, so his pending retirement is a surprise to Amazon watchers. After helping build the logistics operation, Wilke in 2016 was elevated to chief executive of the global consumer business. In a parallel move, Andy Jassy was named CEO of the Amazon Web Services cloud computing division, a structure that made both men natural candidates to succeed Bezos were he to step down.

In an email to employees, Bezos saluted Wilke and called him a tutor to him and everyone at the company. “Jeff has also set us up to succeed in his absence,” Bezos wrote. “I can't think of someone more suited to step into Jeff's role than Dave Clark.”

In the email, Bezos also announced three new members of the S-team, the group of roughly two dozen senior leaders who set corporate priorities alongside the CEO. They are Alicia Boler Davis, vice president of consumer fulfillment, John Felton, vice president of global delivery services, and Dave Treadwell, vice president of e-commerce services.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 22 Aug, 03:00 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS