Much as with Barris’s hiring of Sidgmore, the question was how to persuade a fancy exec to make the leap to an obscure startup. Before Benchmark’s investment, Omidyar had tried to attract high-powered outside managers to eBay, but none had been willing to take a risk on a flea market. Now, however, Omidyar had the imprimatur of Benchmark, and Benchmark in turn had retained the services of Dave Beirne’s old executive search firm, Ramsey Beirne. The combined prestige of the two induced Whitman to agree to a meeting. She might need the relationship with the search guys if she wanted a new job in
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