eBay's winning bid for Sainsbury's online director

Online giant eBay has poached Sainbury’s online boss Tanya Lawler to lead its UK business.

Lawler, currently director for digital and cross channel at the grocer, takes the newly created role of vice president of UK trading, starting late autumn.

Lawler, who has been at Sainsbury’s for five years, has previously worked at Argos and Capgemini.

She will be in charge of developing eBay’s customer strategy and driving growth in its retail brand business and business seller partnerships, which includes Superdry and House of Fraser.

She will report into vice president marketplaces UK and rest of Europe Claire Gilmartin.

Gilmartin said: “eBay is a very different business to the one that launched in the UK over ten years ago. Most items sold on eBay are now sold new and at a fixed price, and the UK is one of eBay’s fastest growing European markets. Our strategy is to partner, but never compete, with the UK retail industry. In her new role, Tanya will help us ensure that the business and experience of shopping on eBay continues to evolve to meet the demands of the modern shopper.”

Source : Gemma Goldfingle – Retail Week
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