Jeff Bezos taps former Amazon exec Tom Taylor to lead $10B Earth fund

Jeff Bezos is shaking things up at his $10 billion climate fund — and he’s doing it by calling in an old ally from Amazon.

Tom Taylor, a longtime executive who previously led the company’s Alexa division, is stepping in as the new president and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. Taylor shared the news in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, marking a return to Bezos’ orbit after retiring from Amazon in 2022 following a 23-year run that included leading its third-party seller services.

“I’m honored to be joining Bezos Earth Fund as President and CEO. After I retired from Amazon, I followed the good advice to consider this as “Quarter 3” of my life and looked for an opportunity that balanced my desire for both adventure and service. Leading the Bezos Earth Fund is this perfect opportunity – a place where I can bring something to the table, learn from some amazing people, and help the planet now and for future generations,” Taylor wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Amazon Veteran Joins Bezos Earth Fund as CEO to Tackle Climate Crisis

“I am thrilled to join the Bezos Earth Fund and lead with the bold mandate to invent our way out of Earth’s environmental challenges with a combination of long-term thinking, technical curiosity, and excellent execution. I am excited to work with Jeff and Lauren to implement their vision and grateful to inherit an incredibly capable and mission-driven team,” Taylor added.

The move comes as Bezos continues to shift more of his attention to passion projects outside of Amazon, including the Earth Fund, which he launched in 2020 to fight climate change and support conservation efforts. Since stepping down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, Bezos has gradually distanced himself from day-to-day corporate operations and leaned harder into philanthropy, space, and media.

At launch, the Bezos Earth Fund pledged to distribute all $10 billion by 2030. So far, it has granted $2.3 billion to scientists, environmental groups, and activists working to protect the planet. Taylor’s appointment signals a renewed focus on execution, with Bezos expected to give away $1 billion this year alone — a portion of which will target conservation, food system transformation, and large-scale ecosystem restoration, CNBC reported.

Taylor replaces Andrew Steer, a former environmental think tank leader who stepped down earlier this year.

We covered the fund back in 2021, when Bezos promised to dedicate more of his time to causes like climate action, Blue Origin, and The Washington Post. “As Exec Chair, I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions,” Bezos said at the time.

That pivot seems to be in full swing. And with Taylor now at the helm, Bezos is bringing the kind of operational experience he trusted at Amazon into a fight he’s calling the biggest of our time.

“Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet,” Bezos said. “I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share… We can save Earth. It’s going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organizations, and individuals.”