Amazon’s Media Chief Jeff Blackburn Pronounces Plans to Retire in 2023

Amazon.com’s high media govt Jeff Blackburn plans to retire at the beginning of 2023, the e-commerce big mentioned on Friday.

The corporate mentioned that the media and leisure companies, led by Blackburn since Might final 12 months, might be overseen by two present executives, Mike Hopkins and Steve Growth, who will report on to Chief Government Officer Andy Jassy.

The companies embody Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Music, Audible, Video games, and Twitch.

Blackburn, who additionally served as senior vice chairman at Amazon, joined Amazon in 1998 and guided the corporate via its preliminary public providing prospectus at Deutsche Financial institution.

He left Amazon briefly in February 2021, earlier than returning once more in Might 2021.

“I’ve determined to spend 2023 in a different way, giving extra time to household, and really feel strongly that is the appropriate determination for me,” mentioned Blackburn.

Over the previous 12 months and a half, Blackburn was a key determine behind the success of reveals like Rings of Energy in addition to the acquisition of film studio MGM this 12 months, mentioned Amazon.

In the meantime, Amazon witnessed mass layoffs in November this 12 months, which at the moment are claimed to increase into subsequent 12 months, as said by CEO Andy Jassy. The corporate has knowledgeable staff in its gadgets and books divisions about layoffs. A number of workers have been additionally supplied a voluntary buyout provide.

Amazon has already notified that it will lay off about 260 company staff at varied amenities within the state. For these being laid off, Amazon is providing severance packages. It’s one among the many many tech corporations which might be witnessing mass layoffs this 12 months. Meta and Twitter additionally introduced job cuts in November, shedding hundreds of workers.