eBay hires ex-Bain managing director as president of eBay business unit

eBay Inc. has named John Donahoe as president of its eBay business unit, reporting directly to CEO and president Meg Whitman. EBay operates the eBay unit as well as the PayPal unit. Donahoe had been worldwide managing director of consulting firm Bain & Co.

Donahoe will be responsible for the eBay marketplace, including the eBay North America and eBay International business units, with responsibility for servicing the needs of the eBay community and continuing to grow the business globally, according to the company. Bill Cobb, president of eBay North America, and Matt Bannick, president of eBay International, will report to Donahoe.

Donahoe “is an incredible strategist and business leader. He’ll add to Matt’s and Bill’s strengths and bring a whole new level of excellence to every facet of the company,” Whitman says. “Most of all John appreciates the eBay community and will work hard on making our users even more successful.”

Donahoe joined Bain & Co in 1982 and held a variety of management positions until being named worldwide managing director in 1999. In that position, he was responsible for overseeing the firm’s 30 offices and more than 3,000 employees worldwide