Amazon UK's Gurr leaves for Natural History Museum

Amazon UK country manager Doug Gurr is leaving the retailer to become director of the Natural History Museum.

Gurr will succeed current director Sir Michael Dixon and will join later in the year.

Gurr first joined Amazon in the UK in 2011 as vice-president of its Hardlines division, which covers lawn, garden and toy products. Before that, he was a senior executive at Asda and c.e.o. of Blueheath Holdings, a company he founded. He was president of Amazon China from 2014 to 2016, when he became UK country manager.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "We thank Doug for more than eight successful years at Amazon and for his leadership of the UK business in the last four. Doug will be missed at Amazon, but as someone who has always been passionate about culture, science and learning, we’re delighted for him that he’ll be leading one of the UK’s great cultural and scientific institutions. Doug will remain in his role at Amazon until later this year, and a new UK country manager will be announced in due course."

Gurr said: “The Natural History Museum’s vision of a future where people and planet thrive has never been more relevant and it is a privilege to be invited to lead this globally important cultural and scientific institution. I am passionate about the work the museum is doing to tackle the planetary emergency by using its unrivalled collection and leading scientific research to connect millions of people a year with nature.”