Report: eBay’s Whitman to Retire

New York City Meg Whitman, CEO for San Jose, Calif.-based eBay Inc., is preparing to retire and may announce her departure within weeks, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The report, which quoted sources familiar with the situation, said that Whitman recently began delegating more daily responsibilities and was completing succession plans. John Donahoe, president of eBay’s auction business unit, is reportedly the leading candidate to succeed Whitman, the report said. eBay did not comment on the matter.

Whitman, one of the country’s most high-profile executives, joined eBay 10 years ago. At that time, she said no chief executive should stay in their position for more than a decade for the benefit of the executive and the company.

Despite the company’s slower growth recently, eBay has grown into one of the Internet’s most visited sites under Whitman’s leadership.

eBay will announce fourth-quarter results on Wednesday.