- Dave Limp, a seasoned executive from Amazon, steps in as the new CEO of Blue Origin.
- Blue Origin, under new leadership, looks forward to a series of ambitious space projects.
September 26, 2023, In a significant leadership change, Blue Origin, the space venture founded by Jeff Bezos, announced that Dave Limp, a senior executive at Amazon, will replace Bob Smith as CEO. This transition comes at a pivotal moment for the company as it embarks on multiple ambitious space projects.
Smith, who led Blue Origin for six years, communicated his decision to resign in an email to the staff, stating his intent to step down on December 4th but will remain with the company until January 2nd to ensure a smooth transition. Under Smith’s leadership, Blue Origin saw substantial growth, with Bezos noting in an email obtained by The Washington Post, “the significant growth and transformation we’ve experienced during his tenure.” He highlighted that the company “has grown to several billion dollars in sales orders,” expanding from 850 employees to over 10,000 during Smith’s tenure.
Limp’s appointment comes at a time when Blue Origin is gearing up for several significant milestones. The company’s New Glenn rocket, designed for satellite launches and human spaceflight, is anticipated to launch next year. Additionally, Blue Origin, in partnership with Sierra Space, holds a NASA contract to develop a commercial space station in low Earth orbit. The company’s endeavors also extend to lunar exploration, having secured a $3.4 billion NASA contract to develop a lunar lander.
Dave Limp, known for his leadership roles at Amazon overseeing programs such as Kindle, Alexa Fire TV, and the Kuiper internet satellite business, brings a wealth of experience to his new role at Blue Origin. In a statement to CNBC, a Blue Origin spokesperson praised Limp who has “extensive experience in the high-tech industry and growing highly complex organizations.”
Jeff Bezos, in the same email obtained by The Washington Post, expressed his confidence in Limp’s capabilities, stating, “I’ve worked closely with Dave for many years. He is the right leader at the right time for Blue.” Bezos further described Limp as a “proven innovator with a customer-first mindset” who possesses an “outstanding sense of urgency” and brings energy to all his endeavors.
While Blue Origin has achieved several milestones, it also faces competition from other space companies, most notably SpaceX. However, with Limp at the helm and the backing of Bezos, the company is poised to make significant strides in the aerospace industry.
