Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is working in Lexington
Did you see a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day?
You know, short guy, bald head, biggish nose, broad smile and friendly eyes?
You did, you say — or was it maybe Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive of Amazon.com?
Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, happens to look a little like a friendly leprechaun.
He arrived unannounced in Lexington to work this week at the Amazon.com “fulfillment center” — that’s distribution center to most of us — on Mercer Road.
Why didn’t you read about it or see it on TV, you ask?
Good question.
We asked to speak to The Man, but Amazon.com declined.
“Thanks so much for your interest in speaking with our CEO Jeff Bezos,” said spokeswoman Patty Smith. “Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to arrange any interviews or photos this week while he is in Lexington.
“He is there to work,” Smith said, “and, unfortunately, we are just not scheduling any interviews while he is in town.”
Local Amazon employees say Bezos is working in the warehouse with the company’s hourly employees to see what they do and hear their comments about their work.
Most CEOs would benefit from spending a few days on the shop floor. Life has changed there since they were young and on the way up — thanks to innovators, like Amazon.com.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Maybe Bezos should spend some time at the company’s distribution center in Campbellsville as well. Maybe then he could see first-hand how how some Operations Managers and Area Managers are treated by Senior Operations Managers.