What next for Amazon as Bezos takes a back seat? Jeff Bezos redefined retail and computing and can take credit for ushering in innovations in logistics, robotics, mobile technology and artificial intelligence. Where will his successor take the company? Dave Lee Share San Francisco | The news that Jeff Bezos would step aside as Amazon’s chief executive was a surprise, but there were signs it may have been on his mind for some time. “He was very admiring of the Microsoft succession process,” said Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, professor of leadership at the Yale School of Management, recalling a conversation he had with the Amazon founder way back in 2007.