Amazon’s head of products and services, Dave Limp, is reportedly leaving the company to join the Blue Origin rocket company, founded by Jeff Bezos. The Washington Post reported that Limp will take over as the CEO of Blue Origin, replacing Bob Smith, who had been in charge for six years. Smith will continue in his role until December 4 before officially leaving on January 2.
This transition comes at a crucial time for Blue Origin. Not only is the company preparing to launch rockets for Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet service, a venture Limp has been nurturing at Amazon, but it also faces tough competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. SpaceX has launched thousands of rockets and recently announced that it had signed up 2 million customers for its Starlink internet service, in addition to securing significant contracts with NASA. Limp will have the challenging task of catching up with SpaceX while further expanding Blue Origin’s business.
A spokesperson for Blue Origin praised Limp’s credentials, stating that he is a proven innovator with a customer-centric approach. The spokesperson highlighted Limp’s extensive experience in managing complex organizations, including overseeing various businesses at Amazon such as Kuiper, Kindle, Alexa, Zoox, and Fire TV.
Blue Origin holds substantial significance for Bezos, who has expressed his passion for space exploration beyond his accomplishments with Amazon. Bezos himself has participated in Blue Origin’s space tourism program, which aims to offer civilians the opportunity to travel into space. Additionally, the company has secured a NASA contract to develop a spacecraft for lunar missions.
During Smith’s tenure, Blue Origin underwent a significant transformation from a research and development-focused company to a thriving space enterprise. Smith, who previously worked at Honeywell Aerospace, successfully expanded Blue Origin’s operations, including the establishment of new headquarters in Kent, Washington, as well as the opening of engine manufacturing and manufacturing facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The spokeswoman also mentioned allegations of a toxic work culture that arose during Smith’s leadership. The tension surrounding this issue may have contributed to the decision for leadership change.
Limp is bidding farewell to Amazon after serving there for almost 14 years. His notable contributions include helping Amazon solidify its position in the smart home market, primarily through its Echo line of speakers.
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