James,
The end has started:
"TOP STORY (IN FULL)
Amazon Executive Payne Resigns
As Technology-Retailing Chief
By NICK WINGFIELD
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Christopher Payne, the executive in charge of Amazon.com Inc.'s
technology retailing businesses, has resigned from the company for
personal reasons.
Mr. Payne, who was vice president of the Seattle Internet retailer's
technology products group, will be leaving Amazon March 23. According to
an Amazon spokeswoman, Mr. Payne won't be joining another company
immediately. "He's decided he wants to take a break and consider some
future career opportunities," the spokeswoman said. "We're sad to lose
him."
Mr. Payne, 32 years old, oversaw Amazon's software, wireless phone and
its consumer-electronics retailing businesses. Consumer electronics has
become one of Amazon's fastest-growing businesses. The category is now
Amazon's second largest in terms of sales, behind books. Jeff Bezos,
Amazon's chief executive, has said consumer electronics could
potentially become Amazon's largest business in part because the
consumer electronics market is larger than the book market.
But Wall Street analysts have questioned whether Amazon's growing
emphasis on consumer electronics is a good thing for the company.
Selling television sets, stereos and other gear is a notoriously
low-margin business and analysts have said Amazon needs more direct
relationships with consumer-electronic manufacturers if it is to
profitably sell those goods over the Internet. An Amazon spokeswoman
said Mr. Payne's departure didn't reflect any unhappiness at the company
with Amazon's consumer-electronics business.
Carl Gish, the Amazon executive who managed the consumer-electronics
store under Mr. Payne, will replace Mr. Payne as the executive
overseeing all of Amazon's technology retailing businesses.
" |
