Amazon UK country manager Doug Gurr is leaving the company to take up a new position as director of the Natural History Museum.

He first joined the e-commerce giant in 2011, having previously worked at Asda, and was promoted to his current position in April 2016, after leading the China arm for two years.

A spokesperson stated: “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.”

During his time in charge of the UK business, Gurr attempted to open Amazon up and counter criticisms, offering public tours of warehouses and engaging in the Brexit debate, notably in 2018 when he warned of “civil unrest” if the UK left the EU without a deal.

He also oversaw the launch of new services and Amazon's recent acquisition of a minority stake in Deliveroo.

The move isn't completely out of the blue, as Gurr was previously on the board of the Science Museum.

“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,” he said.

“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."

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