Amazon bulked up its communications team and lobbying spending last year as the company expanded its healthcare strategy, and now the executive who led these efforts is leaving for Airbnb, according to The New York Times.
Jay Carney, senior vice president of global affairs for Amazon, joined the company in 2015 and was tasked with bridging communications and public policy. At the time, Amazon spent $9.1 million on federal lobbying, which grew to $19.3 million last year.
Under Mr. Carney's watch, the company's communications team also rocketed from 10 people to several hundred, including 200 communications professionals hired last year.
Drew Herdner, Amazon's public relations lead, will temporarily step in as the company searches for a new head of global affairs.
The news of Mr. Carney's departure comes just a day after Amazon announced plans to buy One Medical, a virtual and in-person primary care company, in a $3.9 billion cash deal. Amazon also has its own telehealth service, Amazon Care, which is available to employees and being expanded to other companies.