EBay hires new CFO

Online marketplace operator eBay Tuesday announced it has hired a new CFO to replace Rajiv Dutta, whom the company has tapped to be president of its Skype voice communications unit.

Robert Swan will become eBay’s senior vice president of finance and CFO effective March 16, ending a tenure of about three years with IT services provider Electronic Data Systems (EDS), where he was executive vice president and CFO. Separately, EDS named Ron Vargo and Tom Haubenstricker as interim co-CFOs.

At EDS, Swan belonged to a new management team assembled in early 2003 at a low point in the venerable company’s history, when it faced a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, disappointing sales and a steep fall in its stock price. Industry observers generally agree that under the new management, EDS has taken big strides in the past three years, although challenges remain.

Swan’s previous experience includes a stint with failed Internet start-up Webvan Group. Swan served as vice president for finance, CFO, COO and CEO at Webvan, which offered home delivery of groceries and other consumer products. Webvan closed its doors in 2001.

EBay, in San Jose, announced in October of last year that current CFO Dutta would leave his post to become president of Skype, which eBay bought last year for about $2.5 billion.