Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh Speaks Onstage

Tony Hsieh, man who introduced advertising to the internet, dead at 46

The former Zappos CEO played a major role in the redevelopment of downtown Las Vegas in recent years.

Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos.com who pioneered internet advertising and revolutionized the shoe business, died on Friday aged 46. He was with family at the time.

Hsieh had retired from Zappos, the iconic online shoe retailer, earlier this year after 21 years. He'd also been a key figure in revitalizing downtown Las Vegas, as well as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs.

"It is with very heavy hearts that we are sharing some very sad news with all of you, as we have learned that Tony passed away earlier today," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a letter posted to the company's website.

"Though Tony retired this past summer, we know what a tremendous impact he has had on both Zappos and on Zapponians, as he has dedicated the past 20 years focusing on the success of both the company and our employees."

His cause of death has not been announced.

Hsieh is widely regarded as the man who brought advertising to the internet through advertising network LinkExchange, which he co-founded in 1996.

Microsoft purchased LinkExchange for $265 million in 1998 when Hsieh was just 24 years old. He went on to invest $500,000 in ShoeSite.com in 1999, an idea conceived by a younger entrepreneur, Nick Swinmurn.

The name was soon changed to Zappos and it became a pioneer of ecommerce. The company was sold to Amazon in 2009 for 10 million shares of stock, which Hsieh said were worth $1.2 billion at the time.

As CEO of Zappos, Hsieh was famous for his emphasis on customer service and the company was widely praised for its treatment of employees. Hsieh also wrote a New York Times best-selling book Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose.

"A lot of our growth and innovation moving forward will be based on thinking about what we're in the business of differently," Hsieh told Footwear News last year. "We used to say we're a service company that just happens to sell shoes, and now it's turned into: We're a service company that just happens to sell blank."

Hsieh later focused on revitalizing parts of Las Vegas, where Zappos was based. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak offered his condolences overnight and praised Hsieh's work in the state.

"Tony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas," Sisolak tweeted. "Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony's family and friends during this difficult time."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×