eBay Senior VP and GM, Jordan Sweetnam, Issues Statement on Harassment Case

Earlier this week, we reported that a number of former eBay execs were being indicted of cyberstalking a journalist and her family over a negative review by said journalist. 

Former CEO Devin Wenig had contacted former Security Director James Baugh, inciting harassment against a journalist for criticizing the classifieds giant in an online article. This led to the couple (the journalist and her spouse) in question receiving live cockroaches, a fetal pig, a bloody pig mask, and pornography in the mail. 

Six company employees have been charged with cyberstalking allegations, with former Communications Chief, Steven Wymer, as ‘Executive 2’ in the federal indictment case. 

Jordan Sweetnam, the corporation’s current Senior Vice President and General Manager, issued a statement in place of the newly appointed CEO in regards to the incident. 

In the initial message, Sweetnam stated:

“I want to be able to tell you that this news won’t be a distraction, but that wouldn’t be true. Like many of my colleagues who try their very best to make eBay a great company, I am angry and frustrated.

“What we do know definitively: these were isolated incidents and not a systemic issue. All employees are very clear on their mission: our community of buyers and sellers are the customer, and you come first.”

He most recently released a follow-up statement with more promises of what the company stands for and how they will be moving forward:

“There was also one recurring question – that I wanted to address and answer head-on: ‘Can I criticize the company and share what I really think about eBay without fear of retribution?’

“eBay will not survive, let alone thrive, if we do not listen to you. If we do not learn from you. So you have my word and my complete commitment: no one who comes forward and is critical of the company will face any sort of discrimination.”