Trade Me chooses new chief
Trade Me has appointed a Norwegian online marketplace expert as its next chief executive, after its sale to British investment company Apax Partners.
Anders Skoe, 43, is the chief executive of Norwegian Finn.no and executive vice-president of Nordic Marketplaces at Schibsted in Norway.
Finn.no operates an online classified advertising site and is part of the Norway-based global marketplace and media company Schibsted.
Skoe would take over from current Trade Me boss Jon Macdonald later this year, Trade Me said.
Macdonald had planned to stand down last year but agreed to stay on until Trade Me’s $2.56 billion sale to Apax was finalised. The transaction cleared its final hurdle last week and Trade Me will delist from the NZX next Thursday.
‘‘I’m delighted that Skoe has agreed to take on the chief executive role here, particularly given his strong experience in leading such a closely comparable business in a similar market,’’ Macdonald said.
Skoe joined Finn.co in 2010. He has an engineering background, and previously worked for Google and Radiance Technologies.
‘‘It’s particularly exciting to come into this business when it is going through a significant moment in its history, with a move back into private ownership,’’ Skoe said.
‘‘I’m looking forward to moving to New Zealand with my family, and joining the Trade Me team in late July.’’
Earlier this month, Trade Me shareholders voted overwhelmingly to accept the takeover offer for the business from Apax Partners.
Apax is buying Trade Me for $6.45 a share.