Amazon shareholders reject proposal to split CEO and chair roles

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during an unveiling event in New York on Feb. 26, 2025. Amazon shareholders rejected a proposal to adopt a policy that would require the company's CEO and board chair roles to remain separate. Vote totals disclosed in a filing Thursday show about 82% of shareholders rejected the proposal. The independent proposal was submitted alongside seven others at Amazon's annual meeting on Wednesday. Each of the independent proposals were rejected. Amazon split the roles of CEO and board chair when founder Jeff Bezos turned the helm over to Andy Jassy in 2021. As part of the transition, Bezos retained the title of executive chairman. The proposal sought to codify that structure within Amazon "like the majority of S&P 500 companies," advocacy group the Accountability Board wrote in its submission. The group argued that the split structure allows the board to focus on corporate governance and oversight, while the CEO focuses on the company's business. "With the pos ... Read full article.