![Dave Clark quits Flexport CEO job because founder returned Dave Clark quits Flexport CEO job because founder returned](https://i0.wp.com/content.fortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-06-03T171356Z_460856672_RC2GKU9927Y0_RTRMADP_3_AMAZON-COM-EXECUTIVES-e1654716183924.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
Dave Clark resigned as Flexport CEO less than a year after joining Flexport because his predecessor, the company founder, changed The idea of resignation.
Clarke lost the race to former Amazon Web Services chief Andy Jassy and left Amazon last summer after an illustrious two-decade career at the e-retailer , and joined Flexport last September as co-CEO.a company Press release Since announcing Clark’s appointment last summer, he has called him “one of the best operators at scale in the world,” while Flexport founder Ryan Petersen said geek thread Clark will “lead Flexport into the most exciting phase of our journey.”
As of Wednesday, however, it appeared Peterson would be leading the group alone. “Founders have the right to change their minds,” Clark wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that he was hired to “take the company to the next level” and realize his vision of disrupting the logistics industry. Instead, he suggested, it was a back-to-basics move.
“Today, Ryan and I discussed his desire to refocus on the growth of the core cargo business,” He said. “With this in mind, I believe he is best suited to lead the company in this direction. I will therefore be resigning from Flexport.”
In a statement confirming the leadership change, a company spokesperson said: wealth’,” Ryan and the rest of the board thank Dave Clark for his leadership over the past year. Flexport does not have any further information to share on this matter at this time. “
This is Clark’s second high-profile departure. Clark is a seasoned logistics executive who has spent most of his career at Amazon, where he made a name for himself and led its global consumer business. Clark, a staunch defender of the company, clashed with progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders after the Vermont Independent expressed support for the union movement at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, including a personal tour. Dispute. (The workers eventually refused to unionize.)
“I often say we are the Bernie Sanders of employers, but that’s not quite true, because we actually offer our constituents a progressive workplace: a $15 minimum wage, health care, career development, and a safe and inclusive work environment,” Clarke tell the insider 2021.
“So if you want to know about $15 an hour and health care, Senator Sanders is going to be speaking downtown. But if you want to make at least $15 an hour and have good health care, Amazon is hiring, “He said.
Clarke is also an outspoken defender of Amazon on X, lashing out at politicians (and comedian John Oliver) who criticize the company. In 2020, when workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island unionized, vice Clarke reportedly took part in a failed campaign to smear an organizer, including painting him as “anot smart or articulate“.
At Amazon, Clark is often considered a possible successor to founder Jeff Bezos. But he was ultimately overlooked by Andy Jassy, who led Amazon’s cloud division before taking the top spot.Clark moved to Houston from Amazon’s Seattle headquarters a year before leaving, and after resigning told Forbes He “is no longer happy” and aspires to be CEO of a small company.
He may now consider leadership on a larger scale: wall street journal report He is considering a run for governor of Texas, and has hired political consultants to do so.
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