Source: Vend Marketplaces
Norway-based Vend Marketplaces has named Yale Varty as chief commercial officer (CCO), effective Dec 15.
“Vend is entering a new phase of growth with a clear focus on further commercial development,” said the company, announcing the hire.
“In line with this, we have been looking for a leader with solid experience in data-driven marketing, an international background and broad commercial expertise — someone who can bring fresh perspectives and build on the strong commercial foundation established under the leadership of Ruben Søgaard, former EVP marketing and sales.”
Varty joins Vend Marketplaces’ executive management team from Lyst, a global fashion marketplace and aggregator, where he was also CCO. Prior to that he worked at AI company Supernormal.
Vend Marketplaces said that Varty had “played a key strategic leadership role when [Lyst] was acquired by the Japanese e-commerce group Zozo earlier this year.”
It added that he “brings more than 15 years of international leadership experience across ecommerce, travel, fashion and consulting, including senior roles at Expedia, ASOS, HostelWorld and Boden.”
“Varty’s background and experience give him unique expertise in driving growth, customer engagement and digital transformation in highly competitive international markets.”
Vend Marketplaces CEO Christian Printzell Halvorsen commented that Varty’s “wide-ranging experience — including leadership at Lyst — makes him an exceptional addition to our leadership team. He combines strategic vision with operational expertise, and his appointment marks an important step in strengthening Vend’s commercial leadership for the future.”
Originally from Seattle, Varty will relocate from London to Copenhagen, Denmark, to assume his new role.
“Vend has strong brands and growing demand across its markets,” he said. “There is a major opportunity to enhance customer experience and loyalty, sharpen the verticals, and make full use of the platform strategy. I look forward to working with the team to deliver on this next phase of growth.”
“I’ve been fortunate to work across marketplaces in travel, ecommerce and fashion. I hope to leverage that breadth as a strength, to connect the dots, adapt quickly, and work with the Vend team through change.”
Vend Marketplaces, formerly known as Schibsted Marketplaces, owns marketplace brands Finn, Blocket, DBA, Bilbasen, Oikotie and Tori. It operates marketplaces across four core verticals — mobility, recommerce, real estate and jobs — across the Nordic region.
