SYRACUSE, N.Y., March 22, 2021 – TCGplayer, the leading online technology platform for the hobby collectibles industry, today announced the appointment of Chris Keane as the Company’s Chief Product Officer, effective immediately. Keane, who joined TCGplayer as a product consultant earlier this year, will be responsible for TCGplayer’s product development and strategy, working cross-functionally with TCGplayer leaders to design and define the product organization. Keane joins TCGplayer during a time of rapid company growth, with the Company already delivering impressive year-to-date results in 2021, increasing sales by 90% compared to the same period in 2020.
Keane is a seasoned technology industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience growing startups and tech companies. Most recently, Keane served as Director of International B2B at Alibaba Group where he transformed the way U.S. small businesses connect to global markets and services. Prior to that, and the Company’s acquisition by Alibaba Group, Keane served as Chief Product Officer of OpenSky, an e-commerce startup that empowered modern global trade for small and medium sized enterprises. Under Keane’s leadership, OpenSky was named one of Crain's New York’s best places to work and one Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative companies.
“Chris is a natural fit for TCGplayer. He has embraced our culture and has a demonstrated track record of navigating the type of growth and scale we’re experiencing across the Company,” said Chedy Hampson, founder and CEO of TCGplayer. “I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say that Chris has made a tangible impact and positive impression on all those who have had the pleasure to work with him over the last few months. I am confident that he is the right person to lead the product function as we execute on all of the exciting opportunities in front of us.”
Mr. Keane said, “I am impressed by TCGplayer’s growth, industry leading innovation and most importantly, the unique culture Chedy and the team have been able to cultivate. My passion stems from working to solve hard problems with kind, passionate teammates, and this passion has been further ignited during my short time working with TCGplayer. I am thrilled to officially join the team and look forward to developing TCGplayer’s product vision and bringing it to life."
TCGplayer continues to make progress against its aggressive roadmap for 2021. The Company is focused on prioritizing the development of innovative services that empower local gaming stores and enhance the Company’s ability to serve them. This includes ramping POS integration efforts, expanding fulfillment capabilities and optimizing the marketplace as the Company enters into new verticals like sports cards and comic books. With the addition of seasoned executives like Mr. Keane, the Company plans to accelerate many exciting growth opportunities geared at building on this momentum in 2022 and beyond.
About Chris Keane
Chris Keane has more than two decades of experience growing startups and tech companies. Most recently, Keane served as Director of International B2B at Alibaba Group where he and his team transformed how U.S. small businesses connect to global markets and services. Prior to its acquisition by Alibaba Group, Chris served as Chief Product Officer of OpenSky, an e-commerce startup founded in 2009 to launch the world's first social shopping network. Under Keane’s leadership, OpenSky became a collection of online marketplaces and seller tools that helped more than 100,000 small businesses achieve billions of dollars in sales. An innovator by nature, Keane has worked in a wide range of product, strategy, operations, design, and development roles with extensive expertise fostering business growth, building communities and shipping products globally. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Political Science from Yale University.
About TCGplayer
TCGplayer is the leading online technology platform for the hobby collectibles industry. Founded as a digital media platform within the collectible hobby space, the Company has grown from its initial roots working inside Syracuse-based hobby stores selling comic books, sports cards, CDs, collectible cards, action figures, and tabletop games into an expansive eCommerce marketplace. TCGplayer develops applications and technologies that are revolutionizing the collectibles marketplace by connecting thousands of hobby and collectibles businesses with customers around the globe. The Company’s ecommerce and data management tools power sales through physical stores, websites, mobile apps, and the TCGplayer Marketplace.
Contact: press@tcgplayer.com
