Tech Moves: AWS Startups gets a new leader; Zoom taps Microsoft vet as CFO

Amazon executive Jon Jones was named the new vice president and global head of AWS Startups.

Jones was previously vice president for GTM (go to market), AWS Products and Services.

He replaces Howard Wright, who left earlier this year to join NVIDIA as vice president, startup ecosystem.

Jones joined Amazon in 2017. He previously built Google’s first U.S.-based startup accelerator and founded his own startup called Markoza, which sold sales development and IT consulting services.

AWS announced this year that it is investing $230 million in generative AI startups, including funding for the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, which just kicked off its second cohort with an event in Seattle at Amazon’s headquarters.

Jones spoke this week at the event with AWS CEO Matt Garman and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

— Videoconferencing giant Zoom hired longtime Microsoft leader Michelle Chang as its new CFO.

Chang spent more than 24 years at Microsoft, most recently as a CFO and corporate vice president overseeing Microsoft’s Commercial Sales & Partner Organization.

“Michelle is a results and values-driven leader with a strong track record of overseeing and implementing growth initiatives while developing and engaging talent across functions,” Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said in a press release.

Chang will replace Kelly Steckelberg, who is stepping down after seven years at Zoom.

“Excited for Zoomtopia!” Chang wrote on LinkedIn.

Chang will be allowed to work remotely, or at the Zoom offices in Seattle, according to a SEC filing outlining her new role.

Zoom last year began asking employees back to the office two days a week.