Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Amazon Appoints First Black Executive to Ruling Council

This marks the second executive shuffle in the last year to elevate women at the company, following criticism of its largely white, male upper ranks.
Amazon fulfilment centre | Source: Shutterstock
By
  • Bloomberg

SEATTLE, New York — Amazon.com Inc. has named its first Black woman, Alicia Boler Davis, to the company's top leadership council.

This is the second executive shuffle in the last year that elevated women at Amazon following criticism of its largely white, male upper ranks.

Boler Davis, who oversees much of Amazon's warehouse network as vice president of global fulfillment, was among the three executives named on Friday to Amazon's S-team, the group of leaders who set the company's priorities alongside Chief Executive Jeff Bezos. Boler Davis, 51, joined Amazon last year after a long stint at General Motors Co.

For years, Amazon Human Resources chief Beth Galetti was the only woman on the S-team.

ADVERTISEMENT

Men made up 57 percent of Amazon’s workforce in 2019, but 73 percent of managers, according to company data. Critics of Amazon’s hiring and promotion practices could also illustrate the point by noting there were more men named Jeff than women on the company’s top council.

That changed last year with the addition of Colleen Aubrey, of Amazon's advertising unit, and Christine Beauchamp, of the company's fashion business, to the team. The company has also adopted a rule requiring it to consider women and people of color in vacancies on its board of directors.

In a message to employees upon announcing Boler Davis’s elevation, retiring Amazon Worldwide Consumer division chief executive officer Jeff Wilke praised her leadership and technical acumen and said she was “off to a great start” at Amazon.

The other two new S-team members announced on Friday are delivery executives John Felton and e-commerce services vice president Dave Treadwell. (Treadwell becomes the fourth David on the team).

The S-team, which has fluctuated in size over the years, currently comprises 26 members.

By Matt Day

In This Article

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Workplace & Talent
Analysis and advice on the future of work, careers and management.

The Best Jobs on BoF Careers

Discover the most exciting career opportunities now available on BoF Careers — including jobs from Gucci, Simone Rocha and Bloomingdale’s.


How Retail Store Employees Should Upskill Today

The nature of working in retail is changing at pace as the purpose of stores continues to evolve. BoF Careers examines how in-store employees can hone and develop their skill sets for success in retail or its adjacent industries, sharing expertise from retail leaders and fashion executives who began their careers on the shop floor.


Introducing BoF Careers Executive Search

A tailored recruitment service offering specialist support to secure top-tier talent for your open roles — from entry-level to C-suite positions across fashion, retail, luxury and beauty.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024