David Limp, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of devices and services, is preparing to depart from his role leading the company’s consumer devices division later this year, as confirmed by Amazon following a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Limp, who has been at the helm of Amazon’s device division for over 13 years, has overseen prominent products such as the Echo/Alexa line and Amazon’s range of Fire tablets.
This decision comes in the wake of reports indicating that Amazon’s substantial investments in the smart home sector have not yielded the anticipated returns.
Recent estimates indicated that the division faced a significant annual revenue loss of $5 billion.
The division was adversely affected by widespread layoffs, with Amazon cutting approximately 27,000 positions as part of cost-cutting measures driven by economic challenges.
CEO Andy Jassy confirmed that Limp will continue in his role for the upcoming months, with a successor to be announced in the following weeks.
Jassy expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing endeavors in the Devices and Services segment, emphasizing the long-term commitment to consumer hardware, particularly the Echo product line.
Despite recent setbacks, Amazon remains dedicated to innovating and improving consumer experiences through its devices.
Echo’s leadership will be reinforced by Rohit Prasad, who will lead expanded efforts in generative AI and large language models.
In a blog post addressing his departure, Limp shared his reflections:
“After spending over 30 years building and shipping consumer electronics, it’s time for a change. While I’m uncertain about the specifics of my future, one thing is clear: it won’t be within the realm of consumer electronics. While I remain involved for a few more months, my focus will shift. Expect my continued bug reports as we work on delivering our upcoming fall products.”
Amazon is set to unveil a fresh lineup of devices on September 20 during an event at its secondary HQ2 location in Arlington, Virginia.
Prior to his tenure at Amazon, Limp held positions at Apple and Palm. Jassy praised Limp’s contributions, underscoring Amazon’s evolution into a global leader in device innovation that enhances customers’ daily lives.
As Limp transitions from his role, Amazon remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing its devices and services, despite the challenges faced in the smart home sector.