Alex Dunlap has been appointed as Amazon CEO Andy Jassy‘s new “shadow” advisor, a position that has historically groomed future company leaders and could signal his potential as a future CEO candidate, Business Insider reports.
The appointment of Dunlap, a 17-year Amazon Web Services veteran, is particularly significant given the role’s track record as a pathway to top leadership. Jassy himself ascended to the CEO position after serving as Jeff Bezos’s shadow advisor early in his career.
“The shadow role is essentially a CEO-in-training position,” an Amazon insider told Business Insider, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Having direct exposure to every high-level decision and strategy discussion provides invaluable experience for future leaders.”
Dunlap’s extensive background in AWS, where he most recently served as VP of productivity apps, aligns with Amazon’s increasing focus on business applications and artificial intelligence. This experience could prove crucial as the company expands its presence in the lucrative software-as-a-service market.
The shadow advisor position, formally titled “technical advisor,” typically lasts 18 to 24 months and functions as a quasi-chief of staff role, with the advisor participating in virtually all CEO meetings and calls. Previous shadow advisors have gone on to secure prominent positions, including Amit Agarwal, who now leads Amazon’s India operations, and Jay Marine, who heads Prime Video’s sports streaming division.
Dunlap, who replaced former shadow advisor Eric Rimling in late 2024, joins the CEO’s office at a strategic time. Amazon has recently reshuffled its leadership team, moving longtime advertising executive Colleen Aubrey to oversee the business applications group and positioning Dilip Kumar to lead Amazon Q, an AI application for business customers.
Business Insider has learned that Dunlap’s deep technical expertise and leadership experience in AWS’s productivity applications division could make him particularly well-suited for higher leadership roles as Amazon continues its push into enterprise software and AI services.
