Adam Selipsky is stepping down as CEO of Amazon Web Services after three years, effective June 3. He will be succeeded by Matt Garman, the current AWS senior vice president of sales and marketing. Selipsky originally joined AWS in 2005 and spent 11 years leading sales, marketing, and support before leaving to become the CEO of Tableau. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expressed his gratitude for Selipsky’s leadership during challenging times, including the pandemic, which saw AWS reach a $100 billion annual revenue run rate this past quarter. Under Selipsky’s direction, the team continued to innovate and release new services, with YoY revenue accelerating.
Matt Garman, who joined Amazon in 2005 and worked across all of AWS, has been appointed as the new CEO of AWS. Throughout his 18 years at the company, Garman has demonstrated a strong focus on customers, product leadership, inventive problem-solving, and a bias for action. He has held various leadership roles, including leading the team behind EC2 and EBS. Jassy is confident that Garman, along with his outstanding AWS leadership team, will continue to drive innovation in the cloud business as it enters a new chapter. Jassy thanked Selipsky for his leadership and welcomed Garman into his new role as CEO of AWS.
In a message to employees, Selipsky expressed mixed emotions about leaving AWS after almost 15 years with the company. He expressed gratitude for the opportunities to learn about technology, leadership, and organization during his time at Amazon. Selipsky thanked his colleagues and emphasized the friendships and talented individuals he has worked with. He acknowledged the growth of AWS from a start-up to its current position, expressing pride in the accomplishments of the team. Selipsky noted that he is looking forward to spending more time with family, recharging, and reflecting on future possibilities.
Selipsky’s departure from AWS was confirmed by an internal memo from Jassy to employees, expressing appreciation for Selipsky’s leadership and the impact he had on the business. Jassy highlighted Selipsky’s role in helping the team navigate challenges, make strategic decisions for long-term growth, and maintain operational excellence. The transition to Garman as the new CEO of AWS marks a significant leadership change within the cloud giant. Both Selipsky and Jassy expressed confidence in Garman and the future of AWS under his guidance, with a focus on continued innovation and customer success.
The news of Selipsky’s departure from AWS was reported by The Verge earlier in the day. The transition in leadership comes at a pivotal moment for AWS, as the cloud business continues to grow and evolve in a rapidly changing industry. Selipsky’s decision to step down and pass the reins to Garman reflects the company’s commitment to developing and promoting talent from within. As Garman prepares to take on the role of CEO, the entire AWS team is gearing up for the next phase of growth and innovation in the cloud computing space.
