eBay chief set to retire

22 Jan 2008 12:27

Meg Whitman is planning for her succession after 10 years as chief executive of the online auction giant

Meg Whitman, chief executive of auction giant eBay, is planning to retire, according to a report on Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal.

Whitman, 51, recently has been entrusting more of the day-to-day responsibilities to others and "is completing her succession planning", according to the report. She has been chief executive since 1998.

According to the newspaper's sources, the decision about her retirement could happen in a matter of weeks, but "the situation remains fluid". The report named John Donahoe, president of eBay's auction business unit, as the most likely person to succeed her. Donahoe, 47, has been with the company since 2005.

An eBay representative declined to comment, The Wall Street Journal wrote. The company will announce its fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39292317,00.htm