Amazon India is preparing for a leadership change as Samir Kumar, a 25-year veteran of the company, will assume the role of Country Manager starting October 1.
This transition follows the decision of current Country Manager Manish Tiwary to pursue “new opportunities outside the company,” as confirmed by Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President for Emerging Markets, in an internal email.
Samir Kumar’s Journey at Amazon
Samir Kumar joined Amazon in 1999 as a systems engineer when the company was valued at under $1 billion. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Vice President, responsible for expanding Amazon’s global presence.
In 2012, Kumar relocated from Seattle to Bengaluru, playing a key role in Amazon’s entry into India in 2013. He also manages Amazon’s consumer markets in the Middle East, South Africa, and Turkey.
Transition of Responsibilities
Kumar will now lead Amazon’s India consumer business, with Saurabh Srivastava (Categories), Harsh Goyal (Everyday Essentials), Amit Nanda (Marketplace), and Aastha Jain (Growth Initiatives) reporting to him. Kishore Thota (Emerging Markets Shopping Experience) will report directly to Amit Agarwal.
Agarwal praised Manish Tiwary for his contributions in establishing Amazon India as a leading online marketplace and expressed confidence in Kumar’s leadership. He reaffirmed Amazon’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.
As Kumar steps into his new role, he is working closely with Tiwary to ensure a smooth transition. Agarwal also expressed gratitude for Tiwary’s leadership and wished him success in his future endeavors.
Speaking about the new leadership, Amit Agarwal, SVP for Emerging Markets, Amazon India, said:
India remains a key priority for Amazon, and I’m extremely excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to transform lives and livelihoods. With a strong local leadership team in place and Samir’s extensive experience across Emerging Markets, I’m even more optimistic about our future plans to deliver for both customers and the business in India.