Trade Me CEO Jon Macdonald to step down

“It’s a good time to pass the baton to someone with fresh eyes and a full tank of gas,’ says Macdonald, who stepped up from CTO to CEO at Trade Me.

Comments

Trade Me CEO Jon Macdonald has announced he intends to step away from the company before the yearend.

This will bring to a close a tenure that started in 2003, including more than a decade as CEO.

Macdonald joined Trade Me as chief technology officer and went on to become general manager, then CEO.

Prior to joining Trade Me, he worked in London for HSBC Investment Bank and also for Deloitte Consulting, focusing on the telecommunications and financial services industries.

Trade Me chairman David Kirk acknowledged the scale of Macdonald’s contribution over the past 15 years.

“When Jon started, Trade Me was a company of around 15 staff, still finding its place in New Zealand. It’s now a company of over 600 people and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most loved and trusted brands.

“We’re hugely grateful for the enormous amount of personal energy and care he’s put into his work here, and we wish him all the best,” says Kirk, in a statement.

Macdonald said it had been “a privilege” to work with so many passionate and talented people.

“I’m very proud of the business we’ve built together and all that we’ve accomplished. But after leading Trade Me for over 10 years, it’s time for me to take a rest and then do something new.”