Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks at a launch event in New York on February 26, 2025.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has appointed one of Marketplace’s top executives as a new “shadow” advisor, the company announced Wednesday.
Amazon announced in a blog post that Dharmesh Mehta, vice president of Worldwide Reseller Services, will become Jassy’s technical advisor in March.
Amazon said Amit Agarwal, senior vice president of international stores, will assume Mehta’s responsibilities as part of an expanded role that also includes the customer trust team.
The role of technical advisor, often referred to as the “shadow presence” within the company, is one of the most sought-after positions within the company. This role involves accompanying Jassy to most meetings to learn more about Amazon’s various businesses.
Shadow advisors typically move on to take on larger roles within the company.
Jassy played a shadow role for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in the early 2000s before becoming CEO of Amazon Web Services. Jay Marin, the top executive at Amazon’s Prime Video streaming division, was Bezos’ shadow figure in 2013. Mr. Agarwal served as Bezos’ shadow figure from 2007 to 2009 before helping oversee Amazon’s international expansion and India operations.
Mehta will replace former AWS vice president Alex Dunlap, who was appointed technical advisor to Jassy in late 2024, Business Insider reported.
