Time to Step down, or Step out : Jeff Bezos' strategy directive to Andy Jazzy

The latest news of Jeff Bezos stepping down and handing over the reins has started a fresh debate about how to take the mother away from the baby. if you were worrying about taking a side, its one the toughest topics to sit on the fence, experiencing it, a different matter altogether.

And yes! we are here only talking about entrepreneurial behemoth succession planning. So please put the right cap :)

The biggest challenge in succession planning is the timing of it. Though the PR agencies make it look like a planned process of handing reigns down for the Googles, Apples and the Microsofts, as it is important to take note of how entrepreneur led behemoths are setting up examples of leadership and legacy behind them. The godlike image of the Founder never wanes. So lets look a bit under the veil.   

Case example Microsoft (Bill) stepping down while anti-trust allegations were on, or Sundai Pichai appearing before the US Congress in his second year. We could se a similar story scripted for Amazon now. Amazon is now currently facing the antitrust law issues and the multiple other such as low wage for warehouse, or the Seattle tax issue.

The successors to these behemoths are always handed down these public appearances and inquiries and their frequent brush with the lawmakers, which hurt their public image and take focus away from the business at hand.

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) bases these antitrust laws fundamentally on the Sherman Act of 1890. In my naive opinion, I strongly feel with such fast changing times the means and nature of business these measures need to change and adapt too. Another topic for another time.

The shoes which these founders leave are too big to fill and messy to sort out. The enigma and stature which the leaders leave behind for the successor to live upto is too much to handle. 

Its the outgoing leaders responsibility to make the public impressions smooth or the world ends up the something like the Ballmer era where markets get too critical of every move or decision and the pressure to deliver is unsurmountable, while the Founder moves to self actualization pursuits in public eye and into the realm of god mode.

Now coming to Amazon, it will be interesting too see someone being brought from the AWS program at the helm. The market for the cloud is searing up after the pandemic and the pie keeps getting larger. It was an obvious decision to get someone from AWS as it will be seeing double digit growth for the next decade. 

The major issues being with the current scope of workers issues including the recent directive to pay $62 Mn for the tips for delivery drivers and reemergence of 'starvation wages' consideration of warehouse employees could very quickly spell political trouble for Andy Jassy.

The sheer number of expected employees to touch 1.4 million by 2022 with a strong robotics presence in its workforce. Its going to one strategic move to handle the balance of firing and hiring, pay hikes and move to robotics maintenance for future workforce.

Jassy being from the AWS makes it very interesting to see the counter move of Google by making Bikram Singh Bedi its India head. Bikram set up and led the India AWS since 2012. Google will be looking to tip the balance in the most hottest ground of Cloud battle and more Google announcements could be expected in the next few months.

Another interesting aspect will be to see if the 'Shipment Zero' project remains with Bezos or go for Jazzy to handle. That could be a major outcry if not managed well for the next 5 years. Similarly, Project Kuiper will be closely watched by investors in the next 5 years

Amazon's Chinese market exit will also be interesting to be followed as Amazon sits out of one of the most lucrative markets of the world. It will worth observing how long will that be the case and different geopolitical pressure which Amazon (Jazzy) might have to balance to get the lobbying going.

Interesting times....