Studies of David Limb’s retirement have been enormously exaggerated. The previous senior vp of units and providers introduced final week at Amazon’s 2023 {hardware} occasion that he would step down from the function he held for greater than a decade. Nonetheless, by Monday, Jeff Bezos had reportedly appointed Limb to take over for Blue Origin’s present CEO, Bob Smith, who’s retiring in the beginning of December.
MSNBC Studies point out that Smith will stick round till January 2, 2024 to assist with the transition. Bezos despatched the next announcement to Blue Origin employees on Monday:
I am happy to announce that Dave Limp will be part of Blue efficient December 4th as CEO, changing Bob, who selected to step down on January 2nd. The overlap is meant to make sure a clean transition.
Earlier than I present some background on Dave, I might wish to take a while to get to know Bob and the numerous development and transformation we have skilled throughout his tenure. Underneath Bob’s management, Blue has grown to multi-billion greenback gross sales orders, with a major backlog of our autos and engines. Our staff has grown from 850 individuals when Bob joined to over 10,000 immediately. We have expanded from one workplace in Kent to constructing a launch pad at LC-36 and 5 million sq. ft of amenities in seven states.
Our mission has additionally developed: we now have flown 31 individuals over the Kármán Line, roughly 5 % of all of the individuals who have gone into area. Flight-qualified BE-4 engines are able to propel Vulcan into orbit. New Glenn is closing in on launch subsequent 12 months, and thru our newest contract with NASA, we’ll be placing Individuals again on the moon, to remain this time. We have additionally engaged and impressed tens of millions of youngsters and academics by means of our Future Membership efforts. We have made large progress in constructing a path to area for Earth, thanks to every of you and Bob’s management.
I’ve labored carefully with Dave for a few years. He’s the best chief on the proper time for the Blues. Dave joins us after practically 14 years at Amazon, the place he most lately served as Senior Vice President of Amazon Units and Companies, the place he led Kuiper, Kindle, Alexa, Zoox, and plenty of different firms. Earlier than Amazon, Dave had roles at different high-tech firms, together with Palm and Apple. Dave is a confirmed innovator with a customer-first mindset with intensive expertise main and scaling giant, advanced organizations. Dave has a terrific sense of urgency, brings power to every little thing, and helps groups transfer in a short time.
Please be part of me in welcoming Dave and thanking Bob. By means of this transformation, I do know we are going to proceed to deal with our buyer commitments, manufacturing schedules and execution with pace and operational excellence. I stay up for the various thrilling and historic landmarks that lie forward!
MSNBC He obtained a Limp welcome too:
It has been nearly six years since I joined Blue Origin. Throughout that point, our staff, amenities and gross sales orders have grown dramatically, and we now have made vital contributions to the historical past of spaceflight.
It’s with nice delight and satisfaction for all we now have achieved that I announce that, efficient December 4, I’ll step down from my function as CEO of Blue Origin. I’ll stay with Blue till January 2 to make sure a clean transition with the brand new CEO.
It has been an honor to be a part of this nice staff, and I’m assured that Blue Origin’s biggest achievements lie forward of us. We have now quickly scaled this firm from its roots in prototyping and analysis into a big and distinguished aerospace firm. We have now the best technique. A particularly gifted staff, a robust shopper base, and a number of the most formidable and technically thrilling initiatives in the whole business. We even have a staff that cares deeply about its mission, legacy, and the way we contribute to the following technology and transfer everybody to a brighter future.
Jeff and I’ve been discussing my plan for months, and Jeff might be saying Blue’s new CEO in a separate memo quickly. I’m very excited concerning the operational excellence and tradition of innovation that this new chief will deliver to Blue. Constructing on the muse we now have created over the previous few years.
I’m dedicated to making sure that this transition is flawless, and everybody ought to know that I’ll at all times be on the Blue Crew.
Amazon has not formally named Limb’s successor, although Microsoft product chief Panos Panai — who additionally occurs to be leaving the function he held for twenty years final week — has been rumored as a number one alternative for the job.