Walmart E-Commerce Executive to Lead eBay
eBay Inc. has named former Walmart executive Jamie Iannone as its new CEO, effective April 27.
Scott Schenkel, the company's CFO, has been serving as interim CEO since Devin Wenig stepped down in September, prompted by a disagreement with the company’s board.
Iannone, who was most recently COO of Walmart eCommerce, has over 20 years of experience leading digital pure-play and omnichannel platforms for some of the world's top consumer-facing companies. His team focused on operational oversight of e-commerce and he had responsibility for Store No. 8, Walmart's incubation hub.
He previously served as CEO of SamsClub.com and EVP of membership and technology., responsible for the retailer’s digital transformation, including developing and executing initiatives in membership, marketing, technology, product and operations. He joined Sam's Club in 2014 and grew both the SamsClub.com business and Sam's Club's membership base, which ended FY20 with record-high e-commerce growth and Plus renewal counts. His teams also released industry-leading technologies including Scan & Go, Ask Sam's, Sam's Club Now and Club Pickup.
Before joining Walmart Inc., Iannone was EVP of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble, Inc., where he was responsible for all NOOK devices, software, accessories, retail integration and experiences, books and digital content, as well as third-party partnerships.
Iannone previously worked at eBay as a VP and other leadership roles from 2001 to 2009, including its global search, buyer experience and tailored shopping experience divisions.
In addition to his new CEO role, he has also been elected to the eBay’s board of directors.
"The board believes Jamie is the ideal CEO to lead eBay's next chapter of growth and success," said Thomas Tierney, board chairman. "We have all been impressed by his strong track record of innovation, execution, operational excellence, and developing teams that drive results. Jamie has consistently delivered high growth during rapid periods of industry disruption, consumer change and technological advancement. He is a world-class leader, and we are excited to welcome him back to eBay."
"I am honored to rejoin eBay as its next Chief Executive Officer," said Iannone. "In my previous experience with the company, I developed a deep appreciation for what makes eBay so special. eBay's success has always been rooted in its robust C2C platform. I believe the company has tremendous opportunities to capitalize on this foundation, innovate for the future and grow its ecosystem. I look forward to working with our global teams to enhance buyer experiences and provide more capabilities that will help small businesses sustain and grow. I will focus on continuing to evolve the company's strategy while delivering on eBay's commitment to maximize long-term shareholder value."
Schenkel will continue as interim CEO until Iannone rejoins eBay and will thereafter work with Iannone to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Andy Cring will continue to serve as interim CFO.
"We are deeply appreciative to Scott Schenkel for his leadership, not only over the past six months as interim CEO, but also during his 13-year tenure at eBay,” said Tierney. “In addition to leading bold actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Scott as interim CEO, eBay has re-prioritized its product roadmap, scaled growth initiatives, significantly improved margins and positioned the company for enhanced shareholder returns. On behalf of the board and the entire eBay family, we extend our sincerest gratitude to Scott for a job exceptionally well done."
Iannone's appointment marks the end of a search process supported by outside executive search and leadership advisory firm Spencer Stuart. The search committee, comprised of Fred Anderson, Katie Mitic, Matt Murphy, Paul Pressler and Tom Tierney, led an evaluation of external and internal candidates for the role. The full eBay board unanimously supported Iannone's selection as CEO.
