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Amperity Announces Layoffs as Company Shifts Focus to AI Integration
Amperity, a Seattle‑based customer‑data platform, confirmed a second round of layoffs this week as it pivots its entire operating model toward artificial intelligence (AI). While the company did not disclose how many positions were cut, it said that “a number of talented people are leaving.” With a global headcount still above 200, Amperity maintains offices in Seattle, New York, the United Kingdom, Australia and Argentina.
The layoffs arrive just two weeks after Derek Slager and Kabir Shahani were installed as co‑chief executive officers, replacing former Salesforce executive Tony Alika Owens, who joined in 2024. The transition was described by Amperity as ‘planned’ and ‘mutual.’ CFO Amy Kelleran Pelly also took on the president role while keeping her CFO duties.
In a statement sent to GeekWire, a company spokesperson explained: “Amperity is transforming how it operates as a company, building AI into how we work across the organization. That shift changes where we’re investing and the shape of the team we need going forward.” The spokesperson added that the layoffs were intended to ‘build a stronger Amperity for our customers,’ echoing the founders’ remarks when announcing the co‑CEO appointment.
Founded in 2016 by Slager and Shahani, Amperity has built its business around merging customer data from disparate systems into a single, AI‑enhanced profile for large consumer brands. Public filings show the company has raised more than $180 million from investors including HighSage Ventures, Tiger Global, Declaration Partners and Madrona. The platform ranks No. 32 on GeekWire’s 200 list of the top privately‑held tech companies in the Pacific Northwest.
The announcement follows a prior round of workforce reductions in August 2022, when the company cut roughly 3 % of its staff. A more recent layoff in September 2024 saw 52 employees let go, according to a layoff tracker maintained by Hunt Remotely. The current round is the second in a year, according to a GeekWire article that described the layoffs as part of a broader restructuring.
Industry observers note that Amperity’s pivot toward AI mirrors a broader trend among customer‑data platforms. Its AI‑powered identity‑resolution technology is used by brands such as Virgin Atlantic and Dr. Martens to unify customer interactions across marketing and technology stacks.
By embedding AI more deeply into its product and internal processes, Amperity aims to streamline operations and reduce manual workloads. While the exact scale of the layoffs remains undisclosed, the spokesperson’s remarks suggest a realignment of talent toward roles that support AI development and integration.
The co‑founders have repeatedly highlighted AI as a major opportunity for the business. In their initial announcement of the co‑CEO roles, they said AI would enable the company to deliver greater value to its customers. The current layoff statement reiterates that view, framing the cuts as a step toward building a ‘stronger Amperity’ for its clients.
The layoffs will affect employees across Amperity’s international offices, but the company has not announced any changes to its product roadmap or client commitments. Amperity remains focused on its mission of providing a unified customer profile for enterprise brands.
Looking ahead, the leadership team is expected to concentrate on expanding AI capabilities, sustaining its existing customer base, and attracting further investment. The impact of the layoffs on operational capacity remains to be seen, but public statements indicate the firm is positioning itself for a more AI‑centric future.
The layoffs arrive just two weeks after Derek Slager and Kabir Shahani were installed as co‑chief executive officers, replacing former Salesforce executive Tony Alika Owens, who joined in 2024. The transition was described by Amperity as ‘planned’ and ‘mutual.’ CFO Amy Kelleran Pelly also took on the president role while keeping her CFO duties.
In a statement sent to GeekWire, a company spokesperson explained: “Amperity is transforming how it operates as a company, building AI into how we work across the organization. That shift changes where we’re investing and the shape of the team we need going forward.” The spokesperson added that the layoffs were intended to ‘build a stronger Amperity for our customers,’ echoing the founders’ remarks when announcing the co‑CEO appointment.
Founded in 2016 by Slager and Shahani, Amperity has built its business around merging customer data from disparate systems into a single, AI‑enhanced profile for large consumer brands. Public filings show the company has raised more than $180 million from investors including HighSage Ventures, Tiger Global, Declaration Partners and Madrona. The platform ranks No. 32 on GeekWire’s 200 list of the top privately‑held tech companies in the Pacific Northwest.
The announcement follows a prior round of workforce reductions in August 2022, when the company cut roughly 3 % of its staff. A more recent layoff in September 2024 saw 52 employees let go, according to a layoff tracker maintained by Hunt Remotely. The current round is the second in a year, according to a GeekWire article that described the layoffs as part of a broader restructuring.
Industry observers note that Amperity’s pivot toward AI mirrors a broader trend among customer‑data platforms. Its AI‑powered identity‑resolution technology is used by brands such as Virgin Atlantic and Dr. Martens to unify customer interactions across marketing and technology stacks.
By embedding AI more deeply into its product and internal processes, Amperity aims to streamline operations and reduce manual workloads. While the exact scale of the layoffs remains undisclosed, the spokesperson’s remarks suggest a realignment of talent toward roles that support AI development and integration.
The co‑founders have repeatedly highlighted AI as a major opportunity for the business. In their initial announcement of the co‑CEO roles, they said AI would enable the company to deliver greater value to its customers. The current layoff statement reiterates that view, framing the cuts as a step toward building a ‘stronger Amperity’ for its clients.
The layoffs will affect employees across Amperity’s international offices, but the company has not announced any changes to its product roadmap or client commitments. Amperity remains focused on its mission of providing a unified customer profile for enterprise brands.
Looking ahead, the leadership team is expected to concentrate on expanding AI capabilities, sustaining its existing customer base, and attracting further investment. The impact of the layoffs on operational capacity remains to be seen, but public statements indicate the firm is positioning itself for a more AI‑centric future.
