Trade Me hires Schibsted exec Anders Skoe as new CEO

By Paul McBeth

April 24 (BusinessDesk) - Trade Me Group has hired Norwegian online marketplace executive Anders Skoe, who will take over the reins of New Zealand's most popular domestic website later this year.

Skoe is currently chief executive of Norwegian classifieds site Finn.no and executive vice president of Nordic marketplaces at Schibsted, a media group that operates Finn.no.

Skoe will start at Trade Me in July.

"Trade Me is a fantastic business with great potential to grow. 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.

New Zealand's dominant online marketplace is poised to return to private ownership when it delists from the NZX and ASX next week. Apax Partners will pay $6.45 a share, or $2.56 billion, on May 8 after Trade Me shareholders agreed to the takeover offer.

Current CEO Jon Macdonald, who had planned to leave last year but stayed on through the takeover offer, will remain in the role until Skoe arrives.

Trade Me shares closed at $6.43 yesterday.

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