10 Things You Didn't Know About Andy Jassy

Andy Jassy is a name that you're likely to hear more about in the near future. As Jeff Bezos has stepped down as the CEO of Amazon, Andy Jassy takes his place at the helm of the behemoth in online commerce. To help you become more familiar with him, here are 10 things you didn't know about Andy Jassy.

1. He is 53 years old

According to Wikipedia, Andrew R. Jassy is 53 years old. He just celebrated a birthday. He was born on January 13, 1968, to Margery and Everett Jassy of Scarsdale, New York. He was raised in the Scarsdale area and graduated from Scarsdale High School.

2. Andy's father set an example for his career choice

Andy's parents are of Jewish and Hungarian descent. His father worked for the Dewey Ballantine corporate law firm in New York. He was a senior partner in the firm and served as the chairman of the management committee of the law firm. His dad's corporate profession set an example for Andy, who has followed in his footsteps in pursuing a career in executive leadership in the corporate world.

3. Jassy has an ivy league education

After graduating from high school, Andy Jassy enrolled in college courses. He was accepted at the prestigious Harvard College, where he graduated with his bachelor's degree with honors. He also became the advertising manager of the college's publication, The Harvard Crimson. Andy continued his education at the Harvard Business School where he earned his MBA degree.

4. Jassy has been at Amazon since 1977

When Amazon chose a replacement for Jeff Bezos as CEO they didn't have far to look. Andy began his long and successful career at Amazon in 1997. He started as a marketing manager. He worked closely with Jeff Bezos in the early 2000s and 2003, the two collaborated on a cloud computing platform that is now known as Amazon Web Services, which was introduced in 2006. Andy was appointed as the head of the new division and led a team of 57 Amazon employees. He advanced to the position of vice president of the division, receiving yet another promotion to CEO of AWS in 2016.

5. Andy Jassy owns a sports team

The new CEO of Amazon is also a sports fan. He invested in the National Hockey League's Seattle Kraken team. He is a minority owner of the sports team. In addition to that, he serves as the chairman of a Seattle charter school called Rainier Prep. He is staying busy with side investments and community projects in addition to his immense responsibilities at Amazon.

6. Andy Jassy has the confidence of Bezos

Jassy was the most logical choice to assume the post of CEO when current leader Jeff Bezos steps down. The founder of Amazon shared that he has the highest confidence in Jassy, according to Newsweek. Bezos delivered a letter to employees that explained that he is handing over the reins to Jassy who is well-known at Amazon and Bezos also revealed that he's been a member of the Amazon team for nearly as long as he has. This is a many who has the full confidence of Jeff Bezos.

7. Andy Jassy is responsible for music sales at Amazon

During his long and successful career at Amazon, Andy Jassy has made several significant contributions to its growth and success. It was Jassy that persuaded Amazon to add music sales to its long list of retail services. This was a huge boost to the revenues generated by the company. If you enjoy the ability to buy music from Amazon, it's Andy that you have to thank.

8. Andy Jasso is supported by leaders outside of Amazon

Other powerful leaders in business have stepped forward to show support of Andy Jassy's appointment as CEO of Amazon. He has established a stellar reputation in the business community and he is well-respected by his peers. the Madrona Venture Group's managing director Matt McIlwain explains that Andy is consistent in demonstrating his capability for being a builder.

9. Jassy is responsible for creating a $50 billion business

The Verge revealed that Andy Jassy achieved a high mark of success in his development of AWS. The division has grown to become a business that generates $50 billion a year in revenue for Amazon. It's no small wonder that Jeff Bezos has full confidence in him as a leader.

10. Jassy didn't plan to stay in Seattle

When Andrew Jassy first joined Amazon in 1977 he didn't intend to stay in the Pacific Northwest for decades. It was his goal to work there for a few years, then return to his home state of New York. He shared this fact about himself on The Disruptive Voice podcast. Once Andy started working for Amazon, he had no interest in pursuing other jobs although he would have certainly been qualified. He found a home at Amazon where he has grown and developed as a professional and thrived in his career. He found a job that he could dedicate himself to building and Amazon has provided him with space and resources to continue to grow and develop. Jassy was given the freedom to explore the possibilities for the growth of the company and he has turned out to be one of Jeff Bezos' best allies and partners in building successful programs and divisions within the parent company. Jassy also has a keen eye for making the best possible acquisitions. Aside from the fact that he has family and friends in the New York area, there is no good reason for him to leave the Seattle area because he is set to embark on a new phase of his career in the next six months when he steps into the CEO position at Amazon. He has reached yet one more pinnacle of success in his long and illustrious career with the company.