David Limp, former Senior Vice President (SVP) of Devices and Services at Amazon, announced his retirement at Amazon’s 2023 Devices Event. However, it has been reported that Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Blue Origin, has selected Limp to replace Bob Smith as the new CEO of Blue Origin, as Smith is retiring in December. Smith will assist with the transition until January 2, 2024. Bezos praised Smith for his leadership, acknowledging the significant growth and achievements of Blue Origin during his tenure.
Limp, who has been with Amazon for almost 14 years, most recently served as the SVP of Amazon Devices and Services. Bezos expressed his confidence in Limp’s capabilities, describing him as a proven innovator with extensive experience leading and scaling large organizations. Limp’s appointment as CEO of Blue Origin is seen as a strategic move to continue the company’s growth and achievement of ambitious projects, including the landing of Americans on the Moon.
While Amazon has not officially announced Limp’s successor, there have been rumors that Panos Panay, Microsoft’s product chief, could be a leading candidate for the position. Panay recently left his role at Microsoft after nearly 20 years. The appointment of Limp as the new CEO of Blue Origin and the potential vacancy he leaves at Amazon highlight the ongoing leadership changes in the tech industry.