Earlier this month, EBay International announced www.worldofgood.com, a market for fair trade, environment- and animal-friendly products. The site currently has more than 1,000 listings by India-based NGOs and artiste cooperatives.
While the company is privately held, and financials are not made public, Murty says EBay India’s combination of promotions, retention strategy and shopping experience is working and will continue to do so. “And as broadband penetration grows, so will we,” he adds.
Before our meeting, I had placed a few calls with a friend who works with him at EBay— routine character reconnaissance. “Oh, he’s just one of the gang,” my friend told me.
Last year, for instance, Murty was part of the two-member team that reached the Mumbai finals of the Brand Equity corporate business quiz—“I am a ‘work-out-the-answer’ quizzer. I don’t mug up books or anything.” Murty is also a decent hand at the keyboards and the bass guitar, and often jams with the EBay band.
So yes, Murty has fun in the office. But what about outside? With greater work load putting paid to extravagant travel plans, Murty now enjoys his weekends with books, FC Barcelona football matches on TV, 1970s rock music and his extensive movie library. What happens to the movies he’s watched and never wants to see again? “I sell them on EBay. I am a pretty active trader. You should look me up.”
When we get up to leave, Murty asks a waiter to pack the leftover margerita pizza and garlic bread. “The guys in the office will love it!” he says.
Curriculum Vitae
Ambereesh Murty
Born: 30 June 1972
Education: Civil engineering, Delhi College of Engineering; MBA, IIM Calcutta
Current Designation: Country manager
Work Profile: Began his career with Cadbury India in 1996. After fiveyears, he moved to ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd before founding a financial consulting and training firm in Bangalore in 2003. Joined EBay India in 2005 as director, marketplace development, after a brief stint in Britannia.
Hobbies: Quizzing; history, especially ancient South American; 1970s rock and Seattle grunge.
Obsessions: Terry Pratchett and Robert Jourdan. Murty owns the entire collections of both authors. So eager were Murty and his wife to read Jourdan’s last book that they bought a copy each the day it launched.
Thrifty Travel Tip: Murty once backpacked across Egypt for 10 days with $210 (around Rs9,000 now) in his pocket. He lived off potato chips, hummus and pita bread.