Ex-Deloitte professional James Watts joins OnBuy as CFO

Former Deloitter James Watts has joined UK ecommerce firm OnBuy as Chief Financial Officer. Watts brings 12 years of professional experience to the online marketplace company.

Commenting on the news, Cas Paton, founder and Chief Executive Officer of OnBuy, said, “I’m looking forward to welcoming James to the team. His experience in managing multi-million-pound assets, driving efficiencies, and building and leading financial teams will be invaluable to OnBuy.”

Founded in Dorset in 2016, OnBuy aims to disrupt the eCommerce sector by providing a fair, transparent marketplace that benefits buyers and sellers. The platform offers competitive prices on over 35 million products, from household names to independent sellers, and buyers can shop securely for products from a range of categories, such as electricals, beauty, home and garden, toys, and baby supplies.

According to a release from the firm, OnBuy is enjoying exponential growth amid the ecommerce boom prompted by the coronavirus lockdown. The firm is achieving 605% year-on-year growth at present, and is reportedly on the verge of receiving new investment to help drive a new campaign of global expansion – something which James Watts will play a key role in as Chief Financial Officer.

OnBuy currently employs over 85 people, and will be welcoming more team members in the coming months. Watts arrives at the start of this process, joining the business alongside a series of other C-suite hires, including ex-eBay director Mark Lister as Chief Commercial Officer.

Watts arrives at OnBuy with 12 years of professional experience. Having initially worked for Deloitte for four years, where he was latterly a senior in its Transaction Services practice, he joined the WPP Group in 2013. There he rose to the rank of Senior Manager, Transaction Services (M&A), before most recently taking up a job as Finance Director at The Richmond Group. As a result, he brings knowhow of working with fast growing companies in both emerging and developed markets across 25 countries.

Reflecting on his move, Watts said, “I’m pleased to be joining OnBuy at such a critical moment for its success… Having grown up in the county, working with a Dorset-based business that has huge global opportunity is a definite bonus. Dorset is home to a number of exceptional businesses, and I believe that OnBuy has the ability to put the county on the map worldwide.”