Kul Singh Kargil to take the helm at Trade Me from September, succeeding Anders Skoe
Trade Me, one of New Zealand's most widely used platforms for residential listings, has confirmed a leadership change at the top of the company, with chief executive officer Anders Skoe set to step down at the end of September after seven years in the role. Skoe will be succeeded by Kul Singh Kargil (pictured), most recently chief commercial and marketing officer at REA Group.
Skoe departs after seven years of strategic change
Trade Me chair Owen Wilson said Skoe had guided the company through a significant period of transformation, strengthening its position across New Zealand's digital marketplace, and that the board wanted to acknowledge his contribution as he prepares to return to Europe.
"On behalf of the board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Anders for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the years. He leaves Trade Me in a strong position for future success," Wilson said.
Skoe said the decision to leave wasn't straightforward, but he was confident in the team he was leaving behind.
"It has been a privilege to lead Trade Me and work alongside such a talented and passionate team,” he said. “I am immensely proud of everything we accomplished together to serve our customers and our community. The company is in a strong position, and I am delighted to hand the baton to Kul – I look forward to seeing where he takes Trade Me next."
In a LinkedIn post announcing the move himself, Skoe added the decision came down to family: "My family and I have decided it's the right time to move back to Europe to be closer to our extended family."
Incoming CEO brings marketing and commercial background
Kargil's most recent role at REA Group saw him oversee the company's commercial divisions alongside audience, brand, customer experience, and marketing. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions in strategy, marketing, sales and brand across financial services at GE Capital and healthcare at GlaxoSmithKline.
Wilson said the board was confident Kargil had the right mix of experience to lead Trade Me into its next phase.
"Kul brings a wealth of executive experience, deep operational expertise, and a proven track record delivering business growth. The board is confident that his vision and customer-centric approach make him the ideal person to lead the company," he said.
Kargil, who takes up the role in mid-September, said he was looking forward to returning to New Zealand for the appointment.
"Trade Me has been part of the fabric of Aotearoa for more than two decades and I feel incredibly privileged to be given the opportunity to lead this incredible business into its next era."
Kargil struck a similarly personal note in his own announcement, revealing the appointment marks a homecoming: "25 years ago, I left New Zealand and today, I'm incredibly excited to share that I'm coming home to join Trade Me as CEO."
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