Former Microsoft product chief Panos Panay has been tapped to lead the beleaguered unit of Amazon overseeing its Alexa and Echo products. Amazon made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Panay will assume his new role in October, succeeding long-time Amazon executive Dave Limp, who also plans to step down during that time frame.
The unit responsible for these devices holds significant symbolic importance as a hub for gadget experimentation and serves as the public face for Amazon’s voice-assistant technology through its array of devices. While Amazon has acknowledged that the device and services divisions have yet to turn a profit, specific financial figures have not been disclosed.
Despite its relatively modest size within the broader Amazon conglomerate, the unit has faced notable staff attrition and cutbacks, impacting both morale and the pipeline of devices in various stages of development.
Bringing to the table over 19 years of experience garnered from his tenure at Microsoft, as well as recent contributions to the launch of the Windows 11 operating system, Panay boasts a solid reputation for his expertise in hardware and services integration. Amazon is counting on him to leverage these skills in revitalizing their device and services department.
With Panay at the helm, Amazon is optimistic that he will inject a much-needed boost in morale and spearhead the development of innovative new products to steer the Alexa device unit back on course. Given his track record of success, it is widely anticipated that Panay’s expertise will yield an immediate and positive impact on both the unit and the products it produces.
Expectations are running high that Alexa and Echo product divisions of Amazon will experience a marked turnaround with the arrival of Panos Panay in October. His appointment signals a strategic move aimed at reinvigorating these segments and propelling them toward a more prosperous future.
Source: Reuters
