Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role

Amazon’s Alex Gagnon, left, and Shelley Salomon. (Amazon, LinkedIn Photos)

Alex Gagnon, vice president of Amazon Business and a 21-year veteran of the tech giant, is taking a leave of absence from the company, GeekWire has learned.

Gagnon wants to spend more time with his family before his son goes to college, according to a source inside Amazon.

Shelley Salomon, vice president of sales, marketing and business development at Amazon Devices, will step in to lead Amazon Business. Salomon has been with the company for 20 years, with previous leadership roles in Finance, Stores, and Operations.

Amazon Business, a division of Amazon Worldwide Stores, launched in 2015 to better serve companies shopping for office supplies and other business-related products. The division reached $35 billion in annualized sales in 2023 and has more than 6 million customers, according to an Amazon blog post last April.

“The procurement space is ready for innovation,” Gagnon said at the time. “We have leveraged the size, expertise, technology, and infrastructure we have built at Amazon, and adapted it for businesses and organizations of all sizes.”

Gagnon led Amazon Business for almost five years. He started at the company as a music buying manager, according to his LinkedIn profile, and eventually helped launch Amazon in Canada, Italy and Spain before overseeing the launch of Amazon Mexico, the North America Fulfillment Network and more.

Salomon’s transition to her new role will start over the coming weeks, and she’ll work with Gagnon until he starts his leave in April. The role reports to Russell Grandinetti, senior vice president of International Stores at Amazon.

Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role

Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role

Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role

Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role

Amazon Business leader taking leave of absence; Devices exec will step in to fill role