Amazon’s Echo and Fire Tablet Architect, Lindo St. Angel, to Depart Amid Strategic Shifts

Lindo St. Angel, Vice President of Hardware at Amazon’s Lab126 division, is set to leave the company at the end of October. St. Angel has been instrumental in the development of Amazon’s Echo smart speaker and Fire tablets. His departure marks the second high-level exit from Amazon’s devices division this month, following Rob Williams, Vice President of Device Software and Services.

Leadership Changes and Strategic Implications

St. Angel’s exit, effective October 31, 2025, comes amid significant restructuring within Amazon’s hardware division. The company has been grappling with unprofitability in its devices and services unit, leading to layoffs and product line cuts. St. Angel will continue to advise the division until the end of the year, assisting devices chief Panos Panay during this transitional period.

Impact on Product Development

Under St. Angel’s leadership, Amazon introduced several key products, including the Astro robot, Echo smart speakers, and Fire tablets. The company is currently overhauling its Fire tablet computers to use Android operating software for the first time, aiming to broaden their appeal. Additionally, Amazon is working on embedding generative AI into its Alexa voice assistant, though this project has rolled out slowly and lacks a clear path to profitability.

Conclusion

Lindo St. Angel’s departure signifies a pivotal moment for Amazon’s devices division. As the company navigates leadership changes and strategic shifts, the future direction of its hardware innovations remains a topic of keen interest. The coming months will be crucial in determining how Amazon adapts to the evolving tech landscape and addresses the challenges within its devices and services unit.