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business Thursday 4 February 2021

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may step down without stepping away

By JOSEPH PISANI and ready has slapped two oth-
MICHAEL LIEDTKE er technology powerhous-
AP Business Writers es, Google and Facebook,
Even after stepping aside with antitrust lawsuits. Both
as CEO, Amazon founder regulators and lawmakers
Jeff Bezos appears likely have left little doubt that
to keep identifying new they are taking a hard look
frontiers for the world’s at whether similar action is
dominant e-commerce warranted against Amazon
company. His successor, and Apple.
meanwhile, gets to deal Jassy will likely have to ward
with escalating efforts to off the antitrust threat while
curtail its power. Tuesday’s also trying to forge his own
announcement that Bezos legacy. A revered com-
will hand off the CEO job pany founder can cast a
this summer came as a sur- long shadow. “Amazon’s
prise. But it doesn’t mean size makes some industries
Amazon is losing the vision- uncomfortable, some gov-
ary who turned an online ernments uncomfortable
bookstore founded in 1995 and Andy Jassy will have
into a behemoth worth to deal with the conse-
$1.7 trillion that sometimes quences,” Gartner analyst
seems to do a little bit of Ed Anderson said. “That will
everything. In this Sept. 19, 2019, file photo, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks during his news conference at the be some of the new era of
Bezos, 57, has never let Am- National Press Club in Washington. Associated Press his leadership.” Jassy also
azon rest on its laurels. In the may face pressure from
last year alone, it bought a decade ago. “Jeff Bezos ny’s blockbuster earnings, ship company Blue Origin critics who believe Ama-
company developing self- has held a firm grip on the which it also announced and his newspaper, The zon’s success has been
driving taxis; launched an company for a long time, “ Tuesday. Amazon’s stock Washington Post. built in part by mistreating
online pharmacy selling in- said Ken Perkins, president edged up slightly in Tues- “Being the CEO of Ama- many of its 1.3 million em-
halers and insulin; and won of RetailMetrics LLC, a re- day’s extended trading — zon is a deep responsibility, ployees, especially those in
government approval to tail research firm. “I have not something that tends to and it’s consuming,” Bezos the distribution warehouses
put more than 3,200 satel- to believe he will have a happen when Wall Street is wrote. “When you have a and delivery trucks who are
lites into space to beam in- say in what is going on and worried about a manage- responsibility like that, it’s paid far less than the tech
ternet service to Earth. have a big hand in big pic- ment shake-up. hard to put attention on engineers while also fac-
Long-time Amazon execu- ture decisions.” Amazon’s “I don’t think he’s going to anything else.” ing more hazardous con-
tive Andy Jassy will be the chief financial officer, Brian be completely hands off,” The shift will saddle Jassy ditions. “Jeff Bezos’ depar-
new CEO, but Bezos will be Olsavsky, made the move CFRA analyst Tuna Amobi with some of the respon- ture as CEO is a chance for
the company’s executive sound like a mere shuffling said of Bezos. sibilities that Bezos clearly Amazon to turn over a new
chairman — corporate- of chairs. “It’s more of a In a blog post, Bezos said didn’t enjoy. Perhaps the leaf,” said Robert Weiss-
speak for board leaders restructuring of who’s do- the CEO job had pulled most daunting is the in- man, president of Public
who, unlike most, stay in- ing what,” he said during a him away from exploring creasing scrutiny of Ama- Citizen, an activist group
volved in key operational Tuesday call with reporters. new ideas and initiatives zon’s clout in an online that in Washington. “It
decisions. Think Robert Investors didn’t bail after that could yield growth op- shopping market that has should start by paying all its
Iger at Disney, Howard hearing about Amazon’s portunities. He now intends become even more essen- workers a living wage and
Schultz at Starbucks, or forthcoming change in to focus more on such in- tial to consumers during the ensuring they have safe
Eric Schmidt at Google af- command, and instead novation, along with other past year’s pandemic. and healthy working condi-
ter handing off the reins a focused on the compa- ventures such as his rocket The U.S. government al- tions.” q
Anheuser-Busch investing $1B to modernize US facilities

By DEE-ANN DURBIN will be spread across facili- 43% in 2020, according to
AP Business Writer ties in 26 states. a study of 19 countries by
Anheuser-Busch said The company has more IWSR Drinks Market Analysis,
Wednesday it’s investing than 120 facilities and a London consulting firm.
$1 billion over the next two 19,000 employees in the Beer and wine consump-
years to modernize its U.S. U.S. tion both fell 9%.
facilities. Anheuser-Busch said it also Anheuser-Busch’s Super
Nearly half that amount plans to spend $50 million Bowl ads will reflect that
will go to the company’s to increase its seltzer brew- trend this year, with spots
12 major U.S. breweries, ing capabilities. U.S. sales for Bud Light Seltzer Lemon-
including its 169-year-old of hard seltzers like White ade and Michelob Ultra Or-
flagship brewery in St. Louis. Claw and Bon Viv __ which ganic Seltzer in the lineup.
Anheuser-Busch said it will is made by Anheuser-Busch Anheuser-Busch isn’t the
spend $100 million for new __ have grown rapidly in only big company shift-
can lines and $100 million recent years even as beer ing to meet demand for
on solar panel installation sales have declined. seltzer. Coca-Cola Co. __
and other sustainability Consumption of ready-to- which sells only a hand- In this Friday, April 8, 2016, file photo, aluminum Bud Light bottles
measures. drink beverages __ a cate- ful of alcoholic beverages move along a conveyor at a plant manufacturing 16-ounce
Anheuser-Busch, a subsid- gory that includes canned around the world __ will Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles for Anheuser-Busch,
iary of Belgium-based AB cocktails and hard selt- soon launch Topo Chico in Arnold, Mo.
InBev, said the investment zers __ rose an estimated Hard Seltzer in the U.S.q Associated Press