Founder, executive chairman, and former president and CEO, Amazon – 1994-present
Recently characterised by his successor Andy Jassy as “arguably the most unusual business leader of our era”, Jeff Bezos was a top-five pick for nine of the 60 channel leaders we approached (with two putting him top).
The world’s second richest man stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021 to focus on his other interests – including spaceflight services outfit Blue Origin – some 27 years after founding the e-commerce giant. He remains Amazon’s Executive Chairman.
Bezos will also go down in history for his role, alongside Jassy, in ushering in a new era of computing via AWS, which today turns over more than $100m.
Leadership style
From outlawing Powerpoint presentations, to refusing to organise meetings where two pizzas aren’t enough to feed everyone in the room, Bezos’ leadership quirks are almost as legendary as the brands he’s built. Our channel panellists highlighted his attention to detail and consistent business values.
Low points
A classic “jam tomorrow” story, according to one of our panellists (see below), it must have been slightly hairy for Bezos that Amazon didn’t turn a profit in its first nine years of existence.
Killer quote
“The smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they’d already solved. They’re open to new points of view, new information, new ideas, contradictions, and challenges to their own way of thinking” (taken from this interview)
What our panellists said about Bezos
Phil Doye, CEO, boxxe
“Jeff Bezos somehow achieved the seemingly impossible. He convinced the public markets to support the massive expansion of a loss-making business for years. A true ‘jam tomorrow’ story that simply could not have happened without the market believing the story that Bezos told. AWS stands out as the jewel in an already star-studded list of achievements.”
Gill Holloway, EMEA Vice President – Partnerships, Insight
“Jeff Bezos started life in an unremarkable household and still maintains his humble style. He is well known for never behaving as the brightest person in the room, despite probably being exactly that having transitioned from bookseller, to world’s largest marketplace to world’s trailblazing infrastructure company and SaaS supply chain. His core business values have remained consistent.
– Long-term thinking drives innovation and leadership
– Focus relentlessly and passionately on the customer
– Avoid PowerPoint and graphic slide presentations
– Focus on the big decisions that are irrevocable
– Attract and retain a motivated employee base
Whilst I am very visual and love a Powerpoint, maybe his $200m fortune can convince me otherwise.”
Angela Whitty, CEO, Ampito
“From online bookshop to tech giant, Jeff Bezos deserves to be recognised for his unparalleled vision and transformative impact on the global economy. As the founder of Amazon, Bezos has totally revolutionised the way we shop, introducing creative technology that set new standards for e-commerce, logistics, and cloud computing. His focus on customer experience and operational excellence propelled Amazon to become one of the world’s most valuable companies. Beyond Amazon, Bezos is now setting his sights on conquering space with Blue Origin. His aim is to make space travel more accessible and sustainable. His leadership has not only reshaped industries but also inspired a generation to dream big.”
Rupert Mills, Director, Krome Technologies
“Jeff Bezos for his attention to detail and JFDI attitude.”
How did IT Channel Oxygen compile The Century’s Greatest Vendor Leaders? See here
