Managing director, Amazon UK (2011 rank: 2)
An ability to balance a long-term view with visionary innovation and astute investment means Amazon continues to occupy the top perch in UK ecommerce.
The online giant’s ability to gauge future consumer behaviour and demands – driven by in-depth research and data-driven insight – has stood it in good stead for nigh on two decades, and Amazon’s UK head, affable American Chris North, executes its strategies with confidence, nudging him to the Etail Power List’s top rung this year.
He combines a sharp analytical mind with broad category experience and has settled at the helm of Amazon’s UK operation since he took over in early 2011 with apparent ease. North’s tenure has coincided with high-profile acquisitions by Amazon, including Lovefilm and The Book Depository, as well as the expansion of the site’s range.
Amazon UK has continued to pursue growth through the launch of new product categories. Earlier this year, it made some high-profile appointments, recruiting Ajay Kavan of Homebase and former Asda executive Doug Gurr as well as US head of grocery Bram Duchovnay.
Other headline-grabbing initiatives over the past year included the further roll-out of new delivery options in the UK, including pick-up at Amazon Lockers, in a new partnership with the Co-operative stores, and via grocery stores through a partnership with Collect+.
This focus on bricks-and-mortar combined with category expansion is making even more retailers take note with trepidation.
North, who has a background in publishing, having held senior roles at HarperCollins and art and design publisher Phaidon, is overtly in tune with Amazon’s long-term view of investment and innovation. At this year’s Retail Week Conference he pointed out that many retailers’ preoccupation with quarterly updates and the City’s reaction prevented them from being more strategic.
As Amazon UK continues to expand in the UK – it recently opened a new distribution centre in Hemel Hempstead with another two depots to follow – North will continue to steer a mighty ship, and one he is expected to navigate with continuing aplomb.
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