Jeff Bezos Steps Down As Amazon CEO, And The Internet's Got Jokes

Yesterday, Jeff Bezos emailed Amazon employees announcing he would be stepping down as the company's CEO after 27 years in the role. Starting in the third fiscal quarter of this year, he will take on the role of Executive Chairman, and Andy Jassy, currently running Amazon's Cloud Computing business, will step in as CEO.

In the email, Bezos mentions he wants to focus on other projects, saying, "I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions."

Other Amazon executives were emphatic that this was not a modified retirement announcement. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said, "Jeff is really not going anywhere. It’s more restructuring of who’s doing what."

Though Amazon seems intent on assuring the public the move is a small restructuring rather than a massive shift in company dynamic, Twitter users, many of whom are not fans of Jeff Bezos, were ready with some sharp barbs at the CEO's expense.

jeff bezos is quitting to pursue his true passion: opening an independent bookstore

— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) February 2, 2021

Jeff Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO. Vows to spend new free time defeating Superman. pic.twitter.com/D8ohNEVvPg

— Philip DeFranco 👊🏻 (@PhillyD) February 2, 2021

can't believe jeff bezos is willing to go job hunting in this economy

— Justin “Hoops” McElroy (@JustinMcElroy) February 2, 2021

It makes sense Jeff Bezos is quitting. I've heard Amazon is brutal to work for.

— Sridhar Ramesh (@RadishHarmers) February 2, 2021

For what it's worth, Amazon executives are projecting strength outwardly on Twitter. CTO Wener Vogels called Jassy "the best man for the job" in his tweet about the news.

After many years at amazon</a> I can tell you that <a href="https://twitter.com/ajassy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">ajassy is the absolute best person lead the company. More customer obsessed than any other leader I have met. #stilldayone https://t.co/NQXXnrbGur

— Werner Vogels (@Werner) February 2, 2021