Who is Sameer Kumar? The 25-year Amazon veteran will lead the e-commerce company’s India operations

Amazon has announced that Samir Kumar, a 25-year veteran of the company, will take over as the head of its India consumer business from October 1, 2024. The leadership change comes after the resignation of Manish Tiwary, who led Amazon India for more than eight years.

Who is Sameer Kumar?

Sameer Kumar has been with Amazon since 1999 and has played a key role in the company’s growth. He was instrumental in launching Amazon India, the e-commerce giant’s Indian platform, in 2013, which has since become one of Amazon’s most important markets globally. Kumar currently leads Amazon’s consumer business in multiple regions including West Asia, South Africa, and Turkey. In his new role, he will continue to oversee these regions while also managing the India business.

Kumar’s extensive experience in emerging markets makes him a key figure in Amazon’s strategy for India, which has been a key focus for the company. “With Samir’s deep experience in emerging markets, I am even more optimistic about the future and our plans for our customers and business in India,” said Amit Agarwal, senior vice president of emerging markets at Amazon.

Leadership Transition

As part of this transition, several key executives of Amazon India will report directly to Samir Kumar. These include Saurabh Srivastava, who is in charge of categories, Harsh Goyal, who is in charge of daily essentials, Amit Nanda, who manages the marketplace, and Aastha Jain, who leads growth initiatives. Kishore Thota, head of shopping experience for emerging markets, will report directly to Agarwal, according to an official statement from Amazon.

Manish Tiwary steps down

Manish Tiwary, who led Amazon India for more than eight years, announced his resignation in early August 2024. He plans to pursue new opportunities outside the company but will stay on until October to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. His departure marks the end of an important era for Amazon India, where he played an important role in growing the business and expanding its presence across the country.