eBay Loses Motors Events Manager, NASCAR Driver Sarah Burgess To Walmart In Race For Enthusiast Buyers

Walmart continues challenging eBay in race to attract sellers and buyers in key focus categories with Sr Partnership US Motors Events Manager Sarah Burgess becoming the latest eBayer to switch sides.

Burgess announced her new job this week on LinkedIn, sharing she will be taking on a Senior Management Business Development role in Parts and Accessories for Walmart Marketplace.

Her loss will be keenly felt by eBay as not only is Motors Parts and Accessories one of their largest categories with over $10 Billion in annual GMV, but Sarah Burgess was also a key figure at eBay Motors events and industry trade shows due to her extensive motorsports background and unique experience making history alongside her daughter Bridget by becoming the first mother-daughter duo to race against each other in a NASCAR series.

eBayer Sarah Burgess Makes NASCAR History With Mother-Daughter Race

The eBay Motors employee fulfilled her dream of racing against her daughter in the ARCA Menards West Series.

eBay Inc.

Despite Motors still being a powerhouse category for eBay, the company has struggled to make the most of their 2022 acquisition of MyFitment and has been facing steep competition in the category from hot, new overseas marketplaces like Temu, leading them to double down on tapping into China's vast auto parts manufacturing base for cross border growth.

eBay Pursues China Growth & Ad Revenue Boost As Investors React To Slowing Performance

Jefferies downgrades eBay from “hold” to “underperform”, citing concerns about slowing ad revenue growth & possible headwinds to China business.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

eBay CEO Jamie Iannone has spent much of his tenure at the helm developing what he calls his "high value enthusiast buyer focus vertical" strategy - investing in growing market segments with highly engaged buyer-bases like sneakers, trading cards, luxury fashion, watches and jewelry, and auto parts.

Burgess's departure is just the latest example of how Walmart is clearly targeting the same strategy - including snagging key talent from eBay to bolster their efforts.

Walmart's foray into the trading cards and collectibles market, and their appearance at New York Comic Con in October, highlighted this an interesting trend in talent acquisition with ex-eBayers like Bob Means, GM Collectibles Mayank Hajela, Head of Business Development Kohl Perkins, and others showing Walmart is becoming serious contender in the collectibles space.

Walmart Amps Up New York Comic Con Presence Amidst Collectibles Category Push

Walmart’s New York Comic Con presence highlights Collectibles market share push powered by ex-eBay talent acquisition.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Walmart also launched Resold in August 2024, clearly aimed at taking market share from eBay by allowing 3rd party sellers to list used electronics, fashion, auto parts, and more for the first time - with a particular focus on collectibles.

Walmart Resold Takes Aim At eBay With Pre-Owned Fashion, Collectibles, Electronics & More!

Walmart introduces “Resold at Walmart”, allowing 3rd party sellers to list used electronics, fashion, collectibles, auto parts & more!

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

And Walmart VP Categories, Michael Mosser (who was GM Lifestyle/Media/Toys at eBay from 2015 - 2019) also recently brokered a deal with then CEO of Stock-X Scott Cutler (who was VP eBay Americas from 2017 - 2019) to expand Walmart's footprint in the pre-owned sneakers market.

Walmart Teams With StockX To Steal eBay’s Sneaker Thunder In Pre-owned Expansion Push

Walmart takes unusual approach to fast track pre-owned expansion into sneakers with StockX partnership bringing hot drops to the marketplace.

Value Added ResourceLiz Morton

Looking at Walmart's current business development talent bench, particularly in these key categories, it's difficult not to notice a familiar pattern - one that seems to be repeating with other recent eBay business development leadership exits.