Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

Breaking News: eBay Announces Marketplaces Executive Changes

Rajiv Dutta to retire from eBay; Lorrie Norrington to head eBay Marketplaces

Effective in October, Rajiv Dutta, President, eBay Marketplaces, will retire from the company. Lorrie Norrington will be succeeding Rajiv as President of eBay Marketplaces. She will report directly to eBay President and CEO John Donahoe. John announced it on the eBay Q2FY08 earnings call this afternoon.

KEY QUOTES FROM THE OFFICIAL RELEASE:

“Rajiv has made tremendous contributions to eBay’s growth and success, and has been an extraordinary leader over the past decade,” John Donahoe said. “We wish Rajiv well, and know he will continue to be a strong supporter. He will always be part of the eBay Community.”

“I am deeply grateful to have been part of building eBay for the past decade.” Rajiv Dutta said. “With clear growth strategies and a very strong management team in place, the time is right for me to step away. I will remain a passionate champion of eBay and our powerful Community of buyers and sellers who make eBay the most unique and dynamic marketplace in the world.”

“It’s been a real privilege to work with Rajiv on re-accelerating growth in our Marketplace,” Lorrie Norrington said. “We have strong growth strategies in place and a team committed to changes that create a healthy, vibrant Marketplace for the eBay Community. We want eBay to be the most competitive marketplace online, offering great opportunities for sellers and terrific experiences for buyers.”

With Norrington’s promotion, Stephanie Tilenius, General Manager of eBay North America, will assume additional responsibilities for all of eBay North America operations, including some functions that previously reported to Norrington. Tilenius also continues to be responsible for global product management.

The full press release can be found here: eBay Executive Changes

Lorrie has been positioned quite front-and-center since I joined eBay back in January - she was the only executive to share the keynote stage with John Donahoe at eBay Live! last month - so her appointment comes as no surprise; a natural progression for her within the organization. And congratulations are in order - I’ll be interested to get some time with Lorrie in the near future to talk about the new challenges and opportunities she’ll be facing.

That being said, it will be sad to see Rajiv go. Although my interaction with him has been limited, I enjoyed what conversations we did have over the short period of time I’ve been here. For the co-workers and colleagues he leaves behind after 10 years of working together, I’m sure the move is much more bittersweet; happy for Rajiv to take advantage of spending more time with his family and reflect on all that has been accomplished since 1998, but most definitely sorry to see him go.

Cheers,
RBH

Tagged: ebay, john+donahoe, lorrie+norrington, Marketplace, rajiv+dutta, stephanie+tilenius

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23 Responses on this post. Click to add yours.

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RomanOn 07.16.2008 at 2:26 pm Said:

Rajiv will be missed I still remember the video he recorded for us for an eBay Giving Works auction, still the best video out there from our Execs (no offense to the others). Classy guy and big heart.

– Roman Garcia, Marketing specialist, eBay Giving Works

Dan WilsonOn 07.16.2008 at 2:32 pm Said:

With Rajiv, the last of the old guard moves on. With Meg, Bill Cobb, Jeff Jordan, Matt Bannick and others already grazing pastures new, his was a reassuring prescence at the top table.

I think of him as ‘Mr Power-of Three’: he headed up PayPal, Skype and Marketplaces. He was also exceptionally well-liked and respected at eBay, when I was there.

There will be no high-level ‘grey beards’ at eBay Inc. when Rajiv leaves in Oct, it seems to me. Change and progression is good. But wisdom is valuable too. The best days may be ahead, but the eBay story has been remarkable and people like Rajiv were critical in that success.

dimesOn 07.16.2008 at 3:46 pm Said:

Isn’t Rajiv Dutta 46 years old?

Are you sure he’s “retiring” and not just escaping?

HenriettaOn 07.16.2008 at 4:24 pm Said:

Whether he is retiring or escaping he will be missed. He is an honest man and an honorable man who has kept his mouth shut rather than indulging in smoke and spin. He is about the only member of upper eBay management I have any respect for [sentence edited: see comment policy].

dimesOn 07.16.2008 at 4:39 pm Said:

Don’t know him, but if he’s that good, maybe he can take over yahoo. I hear there’s going to be a job opening at the top very soon!

Randy SmytheOn 07.16.2008 at 4:43 pm Said:

I wish Rajiv well! As Dan Wilson said, he was the last of the “old guard”. For the “new guard” it’s all yours baby!

Chris @ TameBayOn 07.16.2008 at 4:50 pm Said:

Rajiv Dutta - the guy I’ll remember as the one to promise at eBay Live! 2007 in Boston that within the year “every PayPal address would be confirmed” and sure enough now every address I ship to qualifies for expanded seller protection and that’s world wide.

A little guy (especially when stood next to JD) but a big guy on delivering results!

He’ll be missed.

Sue @ TameBayOn 07.16.2008 at 5:17 pm Said:

I’ll be sad to see Rajiv go: he has imagination, and we need more of that. Whatever he does next, I’m sure it’ll be something interesting.

MechelleOn 07.16.2008 at 9:26 pm Said:

I don’t know who he is, but if he was the last guard it is extremely upsetting he is leaving, but I’m sure his being the last guard is why he is leaving.

Steve KennedyOn 07.17.2008 at 4:58 am Said:

Rajiv will be missed. I am sure that his “retirement” will be short-lived. He will have a multitude of opportunities.

Patricia1On 07.24.2008 at 4:34 pm Said:

OPEN LETTER TO EBAY:

I couldn’t find the proper place to put this so I simply picked a thread at random. We seem to be getting away from something that’s kind of important to me and to the other sellers….SALES!

Last night I decided to take advantage of Ebay’s present fixed price fee of 25 cents. I put up two of my larger paintings - both with free shipping. Now, please take into consideration that I have 100 percent feedback, 10 year seller and all my DSR’s are 5.0. From last night to tonight, these two auctions have only gathered ONE viewing! One has the hit the other still a goose egg. Well, you can fall back on the old excuse that maybe nobody is interested in my art…except, I’ve made good sales this month on both my own website and etsy.com! I would like to know what Ebay intends to do about their flawed search that hides items that buyers may just want to see…and sellers paid to list? I want to know where the traffic is Ebay promised us? I want to know why my little website is outperforming the might Ebay - the site that brags about bringing buyers and sellers together? Right now, truth is…your service isn’t worth 25 cents!

May I please have an answer - I don’t care if you are listening….I don’t care if you hear me…all means nothing unless one of you steps forward and specifically answers my post….not just for me but for countless other sellers who are complaining about the same thing!!!!!

Patricia1On 07.24.2008 at 9:45 pm Said:

One day gone - 2 hits on one listing 0 on the other. Take note Ebay - this is what’s happening and this is why sellers are leaving! In the meantime two sales on my website!