Amazon CEO of Worldwide Consumer Business Resigns After 23 Years: ‘It’s Time for Me to Build Again.’

Dave Clark, who has been with the ecommerce giant since 1999, announced he will resign from the company and move on to new beginnings.

Amazon's Vice President for Worldwide Operations Dave Clark is in an Amazon fulfillment center in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 30, 2013. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

By Madeline Garfinkle

After 23 years with Amazon, Dave Clark, who most recently served as CEO of its worldwide consumer business and as a top lieutenant to CEO Andy Jassy, announced he'll be leaving the company effective July 1. Clark’s position made him one of the highest-ranking executives at Amazon, and the company had yet to name a replacement when news of his departure broke.

In a post announcing the news, Jassy stated: “we still have more work in front of us to get to where we ultimately want to be in our consumer business. To that end, we’re trying to be thoughtful in our plans for Dave’s succession and any changes we make. I expect to be ready with an update for you over the next few weeks.”

Who Is Amazon CEO Dave Clark?

Clark began his career at Amazon in 1999 straight out of grad school and a mere five years after the company was founded. He started in the operations department, where he quickly earned recognition for his work and moved up the ranks. His sharp eye and attention for identifying weaknesses in systems earned him the nickname among colleagues as “The Sniper,” as reported by Bloomberg.