Amazon Prime exec exiting the company

Greg Greeley, 55, a long-time executive with Amazon, announced this week on LinkedIn his departure from the company. Greeley helped to build out Amazon’s Prime business model as well the e-tailer’s European business over the past 18 years.

“It has been an amazing and inspirational experience, but the time has come for me take on a different challenge,” Greeley noted in his social media post. “It was Jeff Bezos’ heartfelt 1997 Letter to Shareholders that ultimately drew me to Amazon, and I have not regretted that decision for even a nanosecond. That letter described a unique approach for a public company, and the vision it contained was even more powerful than I fully understood at the time. With a relentless focus on customers and eight clearly defined long-term principles, it has been the foundation for a phenomenal business  and I truly believe, even now, it is still Day 1.”

Greeley said Amazon is a place that allows its people to help invent the future and make history.

“I am deeply thankful to the tens of thousands of Amazon team members that I have been fortunate to work with,” he noted. “It has been an honor and a privilege. Thank you!”

Last month, Greeley said he would be spending more time working with integrating Whole Foods into the Amazon model. Instead, he’ll be leaving to run the Homes unit at Airbnb, and is slated to start that position on March 18.