eBay Promotes Germany Chief To Lead A More Connected EU Business
eBay is putting its European Union marketplaces under common commercial leadership, promoting Germany and Central Europe head Dr. Saskia Meier-Andrae to a newly created VP & General Manager Europe role as the company looks to make cross-border buying and selling easier across the bloc.
Meier-Andrae has led eBay Germany since March 2024, when she was brought in from Wayfair to replace Oliver Klinck after he was elevated to VP of European and International Markets. She added responsibility for Central Europe last year and will continue overseeing Germany, reporting to Klinck, who is now VP and GM Global Markets and C2C (consumer to consumer).
eBay says the change is intended to let the company prioritize more initiatives at a European level, build capabilities that can be used across multiple markets and roll successful programs out more quickly, while local teams retain responsibility for country-specific operations and competitive conditions.
The company also pointed to the growing importance of EU-level regulation, saying the European single market offers significant growth opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses but cross-border trade remains particularly complex for business sellers, with many of the rules affecting them set at the European level.
Announcing the promotion on LinkedIn, Meier-Andrae described the challenge internally as making Europe's inventory "visible, shippable, shoppable" across borders, pointing to a collectible listed in France reaching a buyer in Germany or an Italian sneaker seller finding customers beyond Italy.
Some of that cross-market approach is already visible in recent moves linking Germany, France and Italy.
Fashion authentication launched for France and Italy in August using eBay's existing operation in Germany, allowing the company to support all three markets without building separate authentication infrastructure in each country. Eligible items shipping from France, Italy or Germany can be routed to the German center, with eBay handling delivery to the buyer after authentication. eBay says qualifying listings also receive greater visibility across the three marketplaces.
That expansion was followed September 1 by fee-free private selling in France and Italy, extending a C2C strategy eBay first introduced in Germany in 2023. The newer French and Italian versions add Buyer Protection fees paid by buyers and move private sellers to eBay Balance.
Liz Morton
eBay Live launched in Germany last November before expanding into France and Italy in February, while July fee changes cut Final Value Fees to 5% for business sellers offering used and refurbished products in selected categories as eBay put more weight behind recommerce.
Recent job listings show the company is building an Electronics Verification operation in Germany as well, with plans to offer inspection of phones, tablets, laptops and gaming consoles to verify functionality, condition and authenticity before delivery to buyers.
Liz Morton
As for making things more shippable across Europe, eBay International Shipping will be rolling out in Germany this month, but the initial rollout is specifically for buyers outside the European Union, with eBay saying intra-EU destinations will be added later.
The German marketplace is also introducing eBay-Versand on September 21, a new managed shipping process for eligible new and reactivated private sellers on eBay.de. The current help page is light on detail, but eBay's terms show a model similar to the Simple Delivery program in the UK.
eBay says shipping for qualifying listings will be handled through the company, with the program expected to expand to additional sellers, categories and destinations over time.
eBay's international business has been growing much more slowly than the US. International GMV increased 6% year-over-year to $10.7 billion in Q2, compared to 24% growth in the US, with international markets accounting for 44% of revenue versus 49% a year earlier. eBay's core C2C business performed better, growing more than 20% globally during the quarter.
Meier-Andrae said the move toward a more connected European business does not mean applying the same approach everywhere, telling followers that "One Europe ... doesn't mean one-size-fits-all."
