Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has appointed Dharmesh Mehta, a prominent leader within the company’s vast marketplace operations, as his new “shadow” advisor, a move signaling a strategic focus on deepening executive understanding of Amazon’s core commerce and technological underpinnings. The appointment, announced internally this week, will see Mehta transition to the role in March.
Mehta, previously the vice president of worldwide selling partner services, will now serve as Jassy’s technical advisor. This position, often colloquially referred to as the “shadow,” is highly coveted within Amazon’s executive ranks. The shadow advisor’s primary function is to accompany the CEO to a multitude of meetings across different business units, providing an immersive, real-time learning experience about the complexities and nuances of Amazon’s diverse operations. This deep exposure is widely seen as a crucial stepping stone for future leadership roles within the tech giant.
In a related organizational shift, Amit Agarwal, senior vice president of international stores, will assume Mehta’s former responsibilities. Agarwal’s expanded role will now also encompass oversight of Amazon’s critical customer trust teams, integrating vital aspects of marketplace integrity with international commerce strategy. This move suggests a concerted effort to align selling partner relations and customer safety with global expansion initiatives.
The “shadow” role carries significant historical weight within Amazon’s leadership development. Former occupants have often ascended to prominent positions, underscoring the program’s effectiveness. Andy Jassy himself served as Jeff Bezos’ shadow in the early 2000s before leading Amazon Web Services to unprecedented growth. Similarly, Amit Agarwal shadowed Bezos from 2007 to 2009, a period that preceded his instrumental role in spearheading Amazon’s international expansion, particularly in India. Jay Marine, a key figure in Amazon’s Prime Video division, also served as Bezos’ shadow in 2013.
Mehta succeeds Alex Dunlap, a former AWS VP who previously held the shadow advisor position appointed in late 2024. The selection of Mehta, with his extensive background in managing the critical relationship between Amazon and its vast network of third-party sellers, indicates Jassy’s intent to harness this expertise to navigate the evolving landscape of e-commerce, particularly concerning marketplace dynamics, regulatory scrutiny, and the integration of advanced AI technologies into seller operations and customer experience. This appointment comes at a time when Amazon is heavily investing in generative AI to enhance everything from its retail offerings to its cloud services, making the technical advisory role more critical than ever.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/17044.html
