Longtime Amazon exec joins REI as its first-ever chief commercial officer

A 14-year Amazon veteran has left the online giant to join the nation’s largest consumer co-op.

REI has appointed Cameron Janes as senior VP and to the new position of  chief commercial officer, effective Jan. 3. He joins REI from Amazon, where he has served as VP, physical retail, since July 2020. Before that, he was VP, physical stores. Other roles include VP, Amazon Books, and VP, product management, Amazon Devices.

Prior to joining Amazon in 2007, Janes was at Walmart for nearly four years. His roles included director, digital video.

Before REI announced his appointment, Janes said in a post on LinkedIn announcing his departure from Amazon that his next step would be “to see if I can take everything I have learned at Amazon and effectively apply it in another context and culture.”

Janes has been charged with uniting REI’s  retail and e-commerce channels to help the retailer push the boundaries of how physical and digital retail connect and build a seamless omnichannel experience for its customers and members, the company stated.

“For me REI is synonymous for connecting with the outside and family,” Janes said. “Growing up, my dad was a former park ranger, and our weekends and vacations were filled with hiking and camping—and many of those trips started at REI.  I consider this an incredible opportunity but also a great responsibility to get to help grow and progress an organization that is focused on making the outdoors accessible for all.”

In other appointments, REI promoted two executives to new leadership positions.  Kelley Hall and Vivienne Long have been promoted to executive VP, CFO, and senior VP, chief marketing officer, respectively.

“Kelley and Vivienne are phenomenal co-op leaders, who have helped drive incredible results for our business and our customers, while setting us up for an ambitious growth agenda,” said Eric Artz, REI Co-op president and CEO. “Cameron brings a wealth of experience in both physical and digital retail spaces,”.  These three leaders—alongside the rest of a talented senior team—will position us to continue our terrific momentum into 2022.”

REI has more than 20 million members and 174 locations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Its active adventure travel company  runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. 

[Read More: CSA Exclusive: REI provides virtual access to outdoor gear experts]

To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to — and steward — the outdoors.   For the seventh year in a row, REI closed its 171 stores, activity centers, distribution centers, call centers and headquarters on Black Friday, Nov. 26.  It paid its more than 15,000 employees, encouraging them spend the day outdoors with friends and family, using a hashtag campaign called #OptOutside.