Ethan Evans, a former Vice President at Amazon, has shared a deeply personal and shocking account of betrayal, revealing that a startup CEO he once worked with seduced his wife, ultimately leading to their divorce. In a candid LinkedIn post, Evans detailed how the CEO’s actions were allegedly a direct retaliation for his professional pushback.
Evans, who resides in Seattle, emphasized that his story serves as a stark warning about the dangers of navigating unethical leadership and the “political snake pits” often found within executive teams. Importantly, Evans clarified that the CEO in question was not Amazon’s Executive Chairman, Jeff Bezos.
Reflecting on his experience, Evans stated, “A CEO that I worked for seduced my wife in direct retaliation for my pushback on him at work. He won. I got divorced and left the company.” He urged his audience to learn from his painful experience, offering advice on how to protect oneself in similar situations.
One key takeaway from his post is the importance of recognizing and acting on signs of unethical behavior in the workplace. “I recognized early on that my CEO in the divorce story was unethical and dishonest,” Evans admitted. However, he also confessed that his fear of a tough economy led him to stay in the job longer than he should have, which ultimately cost him dearly. “Leave before the snake bites,” he warned.
Evans also shared practical advice on how to spot unethical leaders, advising professionals to investigate a manager’s past and speak with former employees who are no longer connected to them. “With the CEO I talk about, I had ‘spotted the snake’—my mistake was staying too long and getting bitten,” he concluded.
Evans’ post is a powerful reminder of the personal and professional toll that can result from working under unethical leadership and serves as a cautionary tale for those navigating similar challenges in their careers.
